^c:i^ 


u 


t/ 


m^^' 


■■'H'^ii^ 


RECOMMENDATION. 

THE  "  Sceptics  Manual,**  while  going 
through  the  press,  has  been  seen  by  Dr.  S.  S. 
Smithy  of  Princeton  College,  and  the  Rev. 
James  Armstrong,  of  Trenton,  both  of  whom, 
have  sent  the  Publisher  special  written  testi- 
monies of  their  approbation. 

A  part  of  the  language  of  one,  which  is  also 
the  opinion  (in  sulDstance)  of  the  other,  is,  that 
"  the  nature  of  the  work  deserves  approbation ; 
also  the  manner  in  which  it  is  treated ;  and 
the  great  object  it  is  calculated  to  promote.*' 
The  same  writer  also  adds :  "  I  am  inclined 
to  think  it  promises  great  usefulness ;  espe- 
cially if  those  for  whom  it  is  intended,  could 
be  prevailed  upon  to  give  it  an  attentive  and 
unprejudiced  perusal.'* 

This  work  is  well  adapted  to  the  confirma^ 
tion  and  edification  of  Christians,  though  it  is 
more  particularly  designed  for  the  instruction 
^f  Unbelievers. 


^*Iie  that  heiircth  reproof  getteth  understanding.'- 


; 


SCEPTIC'S  MAmiAL. 

OR 

CHRISTIANITY  VERIFIED  . 

Being  a  new  method  of  Appeal  to  the  UnderstaAd= 

ings  and  Consciences  of  Deists,  Jews,  Sceptics, 

and  Formal  Professors  : 

Tor  the  truth,  power,  and  efficacy  of  the  Christian 
Religion ;  demonstrated  in  three  parts : 

BY    THE 

TRUTH  OF  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURE3> 

BY  THE   CERTAINTY  Ot  THE 

MANIFESTATION  OF  THE  SPIRIT, 

AND    BY    THE 

INFLUENCE  AND  POWER  OF  RELIGIOlj', 

AS  EXEMPLIFIED   IN  THE  CONVERSION  OF  tNOT^- 

RIOtrS    SINNERS,    AND   IN   THE  LIVES   OP 

DISTINGUISHED  SAINTS. 

**  He  that  heareth  reproof  getteth  xindetstanding!''' 

Paov. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED  BY  J.  F.  WATSON, 

S.  W.  Comer  of  Third  and  Chesnut-streeta. 

assr 


PREFACE. 


IT  is  intended  in  the  following  pages,  to  oflfey  to 
"Unbelievers,  after  their  own  manner  of  rea- 
soning, reasons  for  the  truth  and  certainty  of  th« 
Christian  Religion,  both  in  its  theory,  and  in  it$ 
*'  power,"  deduced  from,  and  confirmed  by,  datUy  to 
be  found  m  their  own  judgments  and  consciences. 

Those  who  disbelieve  the  Bible,  do  not  allow  their 
opponents  to  urge  their  arguments  from  prennses, 
which  their  minds  already  reject,  it  is  therefore  the 
purpose  here  to  convince  them  from  "  topics  of  rea- 
son" in  which  they  can  at  once  give  their  consent. 
— In  this  manner  the  Bible  is  demonstrated  to  be  true. 

It  is  next  endeavoured  to  show,  ftoxv  it  is  that  God, 
who  is  a  Spirit,  "  and  whom  no  man  hath  seen  at 
any  time,"  doth  yet  as  certainly  ?ctid perceptibly  mani- 
fest Himself  to  the  mind^  as  does  the  radiance  of  the 
natiu'al  sun  to  our  outward  senses  at  noonday.  This 
being  a  doctrine  of  vital  importance  to  Christianity, 
though  little  regarded  by  some  theoretical  christians, 
is  here  proposed  to  the  reason  and  understanding 
of  all  objectors,  and  enforced  by  suitable  Scripture 
concurrence. 

Finally,  as  Religion  is  a  Sa^'ptvr a! service,  and  is 
an  affection  and  feeling  of  the  heart,  wrought  there, 
perceptibly  and  preternaturally  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to 
the  sure  and  certain  evidence  and  consolation  of  all 
true  Believers,  it  is  endeavoured  to  show  the  energy 
and  transforming  effect  of  that  spiritual  power  in 
convincing  and  convicting  of  Sin,  and  m  "  changing 
the  heart,"  by  exhibiting  the  operations  of  that  spirit 


iv  PREFACE. 

in  the  death  of  convicted  Smners,  dying  in  despair  ; 
in  Sinners  reformed ;  and  in  Saints  who  lived  and 
died  in  the  assurance  of  Faith.-^The  persons  selected 
for  this  evidence,  are  such  as  are  best  known  to  the 
literary  world,  and  to  the  truth  of  whose  lives  his- 
tory has  affixed  her  sufficient  testimony. 

This  work  is  chiefly  derived  from  the  Wi'itings  of 
Leslie,  Fletcher,  and  Si|rapson. 


t,..«,^ 


PART  I. 


A  •& 


OF    THE 

BY  Mr,  CHARILES  LESLIE. 


'  "  METHOl)  WITIL  THE 


lXALETTERT<)ASKlENa      ,     . 


INTROBtJCTION 


METHOD  WITH  THE  DEISTS. 

THE  controversy  between  Deists  and  Christians, 
ijnot  so  much  respecting-  the  morality  or  ethics  of 
tlie  gospel,  (for  honest  Deists  admit  its  precepts  to 
be  pure,  and  of  real  importance  to  the  well  being-  of 
society)  as  it  is  a  dispute  concerning-  the  integrity 
and  validity  of  the  bible  itself  Christians  kno-uj  it 
to  be  an  inspired  book,  because,  besides  its  other 
evidences,  it  has  **  demonstration  and  power.'*  Biit 
Infidels  imagine  it  a  delusive  forgery,  imposed  upon 
the  credulity  of  Christians,  by  the  craft  of  designing 


The  vaKdity  of  the  bibi.e,  being  therefore,  the 
chief  matter  at  issue,  the  force  of  the  following  ar- 
guments of  Leslie,  supported  (for  this  occasion)  by 
notes,  chiefly  from  Fletcher,  are  pm-posely  limited 
to  that  kind  of  appeal  to  the  understanding  of  unbe- 
lievers, which  will  best  encounter  and  subdue  tlteir 
unbelief  and  prejudices. 

The  excellence  of  the  moral  and  perceptive  part  of 
the  gospel,  is  comparatively  an  easier  task  to  prove. 
Its  beneficial,  and  even  purifying  tendency,  has  been 
already  conceded  in  a  very  remarkable  manner,  by 


X  ^  INTRODUCTION. 

both  Rousseau  and  Bolingbroke.*  If  however,  fur- 
ther  information  is  required  upon  this  subject,  the 
honest  inquirer  may  find  his  utmost  scruples  amply 
combatted,  by  looking-  into  Mr.  Bogue's  excellent 
"'Essay  on  the  Divine  authority  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment," a  little  book  drawn  up  as  as'ift  to  the  infidels 
of  France,  and  most  admirably  adapted  to  subdue 
the  anti-christian  prejudices  of  any  people. 

Till  yovi  convince  an  Infidel  that  the  word  of.»GOD 
is  indeed  genuine,  you  but  "  beat  the  air,"- to  urge 
him  to  read  it  as  his  great  rule  of  life ;  but  when 
convinced... 7je  knows,  he  must  not  only  study  it,  but 
must  obey  it,  or  perish. 


*  Even  Paine  has  not  scrupled  to  say,  that  "  Jesus 
Christ  was  a  virtuous,  and  an  amiable  man ;  that  the 
morality  he  preached  and  practised,  was  of  the  most 
benevolent  kind ;  and  that  it  has  not  been  exceeded 
by  any."  Similar  concessions  have  been  made,  at 
different  times,  by  Blount  and  Tindal,  and  by  Mor- 
gan, Toland,  Chubb,  jind  otjiers. 


STIORT  AND  EASY  IVIETHOT) 


WITH    THE 


DEISTS. 

SIP, 

I,  IN  answer  to  your's  of  the  3d  instant, 
I  much  condole  with  your  unhappy  circum- 
stances, of  being  placed  amongst  such  com- 
pany, where,  as  you  say,  you  continually 
hear  the  sacred  scriptures,  and  the  histories 
therein  contained,  particularly  of  Moses,  and 
of  Christ,  and  all  revealed  religion,  turned 
into  ridicule,  by  men  who  set  up  for  sense 
and  reason.  And  they  say,  that  there  is  no 
greater  ground  to  believe  in  Christ  than  in 
Mahomet :  that  all  these  pretences  to  reve- 
lation are  cheats,  and  ever  have  been, 
among  Pagans,  Jews,  Mahometans,  and 
Christians :  that  they  are  all  alike  imposi- 
tions of  cunning  and  designing  men,  upon 
the  credulity,  at  first,  of  simple  and  mi- 
thinking  people  ;  till,  their  numbers  increas- 
ing, their  delusions  grew  popular,  came  at 
last  to  be  established  by  laws ;  and  thea. 


12  EASY  METHOD 

the  force  of  education  and  custom  gives  a 
bias  to  the  judgments  of  after  ages,  till  such 
deceits  come  really  to  be  believed,  being 
received  upon  trust  from  the  ages  forego- 
ing, without  examining  into  the  original  and 
bottom  of  them.  Which  these  our  moderit 
men  of  sense,  (as  they  desire  to  be  esteem- 
ed) say,  that  they  only  do  ;  that  they  only 
have  their  judgments  freed  from  the  slavish 
authority  of  precedents  and  laws,  in  mat- 
ters of  truth  ;  which,  they  say,  ought  only 
to  be  decided  by  reason  :  though,  by  a  pru- 
dent compliance  with  popularity  and  laws, 
they  preserve  themselves  from  outrage,  and 
legal  penalties  ;  for  none  of  their  complex- 
ion are  addicted  to  sufferings,  or  martyr- 
dom. 

Now,  sir,  that  which  ydu  desire  frorh 
me,  is,  some  short  topic  of  reason,  if  such 
can  be  found,  without  running  to  authori- 
ties, and  the  intricate  mazes  of  learning, 
which  breed  long  disputes ;  and  which 
these  men  of  reason  deny  by  wholesale, 
though  they  can  give  no  reason  for  it,  only 
suppose  that  authors  have  been  trump- 
ed upon  us,  interpolated,  and  corrupted,  so 
that  no  stress  can  be  laid  upon  them : 
though  it  cannot  be  shown  wherein  they 
are  so  corrupted  ;  which,  in  reason,  ought 
to  lie  upon, them  to  prove,  who  alledge  it,;" 


WITH  THE  MIISTS.  13 

otherwise  it  is  not  only  a  precarious,  but  a 
guilty  plea :  and  the  more,  that  they  refrain 
npt  to  quote  books  on  their  side,  for  whose 
authority  there  are ;  no  better,  or  not  so 
good  grounds.  However,  you  say,  it  makes 
your  disputes  endless,  and  they  go  away 
with  noise  and  clamour,  and  a  boast,  that 
there  is  nothing,  at  least  nothing  certain,  to 
be  said  on  the  Christian  side.  Therefore 
you  are  desirous  to  find  some  one  topic  of 
reason,  wdiich  should  demonstrate  the  truth 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and  at  the  same 
time  distinguish  it  from  the  impostors  of 
Mahomet,  and  the  old  Pagan  world;  tl^at 
our  Deists  may  be  brought  to  this  test,  and 
be  either  obliged  to  renounce  their  reason, 
and  the  common  reason  of  mankind,  or  to 
submit  to  the  clear  proof,  from  reason,  of 
the  Christian  religion  :  which  must  be  such 
a  proof,  as  no  imposture,  can  pretend  to, 
otherwise  it  cannot  prove  the  Christian  re- 
ligion not  to  be  an  imposture.  And  w^hether 
such  a  proof,:  one  single  proof,  (to  avoid 
confusion,)  is  not  to  be  found  out,  you  desire 
to  knov»^  from  me. 

And  you  say,  that  you  cannot  imagine 
but  there  must  be  such  a  proof,  because 
every  truth  is  in  itself  clear,  and  one.  And 
therefore  that  one  reason  for  it,  if  it  be  the 
true  reason.,  must  be  sufficient ;  and  if  suffi- 


14  EASY  3IETHQD 

cient,  It  is  better  than  many ;  for  muliipUcity 
confounds,  especially  to  weak  judgments. 

Sir,  you  have  imposed  a  hard  task  upon 
me.  1  vvish  I  could  perform  it.  For  though 
every  truth  is  one  ;  yet  our  sight  is  so  feeble, 
that  we  cannot  (always)  come  to  it  directly, 
but  by  many  inferences,  and  laying  -^^of 
things  togethfe-r. 

But  I  think,  thaty  in  the  case  before  us, 
there  is  such  a  proof  as  you  require  ;  and 
'  I  will  set  it  down  as  short  and  plain  as  I 
■''■can.  -' 

ii;  First,  then,  I'-sappbse  that  the  truth 

of  the  doctrine  O'f  'Christ  will  be  sufficiently 

Evinced,  if  the  matters  of  fact  which  are 

■fiscorded  of  him  in  the  gospels,  be  true  :  for 

i-ftis  miracles,  if  true,  do  vouch  the  truth  of 

what  he  delivered. 

The  same  is  to  be  said  as  to  Moses.  If 
he  brought  the  children  of  Israel  through 
the  Red  Sea,  in  that  miraculous  manner 
which  is  related  in  Exodus,  and  did  siich 
other  wonderful  things  as  are  there  told  of 
him,  it  must  necessarily  follow,  that  he  was 
sent  from  God :  these  being  the  strongest 
proofs  we  can  desire ;  and  which  every  De- 
ist will  confess  he  would  acquiesce  in,  if' he 
saw  them  with  his  eyes.  Therefore  the  stress 
of  this  Cause  will  depend  xipon  the  proof  of 
these  iti^tters  of  fact. 


WITH  THE  DEJSTS.  15 

1.  And  the  method  I  will  take,  is,  Firsts 
To  lay  down  such  rules,  as  to  the  truth  qi  ^ 
matters  of  fact  in  general,  that,  where  they 
all  meet,  such  matters  of  fact  cannot  be 
false.  And  then,  Secondlij^  to  show,  that  all  , 
these  rules  do  meet  in  the  matters  of  fact  of  , 
M-oseSy  and  of  Christ :  and  that  they. do  not 
meet  in  the  matters  of  fact  of  Mahomet,  of 
the  heathen  deities,  or  can  possibly  meet 
in  any.  imposture,  Avhatsoever. 

2^  The  rules  ace  these. 

I.  That  the  matter  of  fact  be  such, 
as  that  men's  oiitward  senses,  their  eyes 
and  ears,  may  be  judges  of  it, 

II.  That  it  be  done  publicly,  in  the 
face  of  the  world. 

III.  That  not  only  public  monu- 
ments be  kept  up  in  memory  of  it,  but 
some  outward  actions  be  performed. 

IV.  That  such  monuments,  and 
such  actions,  or  observances,  be  insti- 
tuted, and  do  commence  from  the  time 
that  the  matter  of  fact  was  done. 

3.  The  twQ  first  rules  make  it  impossi- 
ble for  aay^such  matter  of  fact  to  be  impo- 
sed upon  men,  at  the  time  when  such  mat- 


15'  EASY  METltOT5 

tef'^of  fact  was  said  to  be  done,  because 
ev^n^  Irian's  eyes  and  senses  would  contra-^"" 
diet  it;  For  example,  suppose  any  man 
f-.hould  pretend,  that  yesterday  he  divided 
the  Thames,  iin  presence  of  all  the  people 
of  London,  and  carried  the  whole  city,  men, 
women,  f»nd  children,  over  to  Soutliwark, 
on  dry  lard  ;  the  waters  standing  like  walls 
on  bo^th. sides  :  J  say,  it  is  morally  impos- 
sible, that  he  could  persuade  the  people  of 
luondon  that  this  was  true,  when  every  man 
woman,  and  child,  could  contradict  him, 
and  say, 'that  this  was  a  notorious  falsehood; 
for  that  they  had  not  seen  the  Thame's  so 
divided,  or  had  gone  over  on  dry  lafid. 
Therefore  I  take  it  lor  granted,  (and,  1  sup- 
pose, with  the  allov/ance  of  all  the  Deists, 
in  the  world)  that  no  such  imposition 
could  be  put  upon  men,  at  the  time,  when 
such  public  matter  of  fact  was  said  to  be 
don^. 

4.  Therefore  it  only  remains  tliat  suck 
matter  of  fact  inight  be  invented  some  time 
after  wiien  the  men  of  that  generation 
whei-ein^the  thin^  was  said  to  be  done,  are 
all  past  and  gone  ;  and  the  credulity  of  after 
ages  might  be  imposed  upon,  to  believe 
that  things  were  done  in  former  ages  'which 
were  not.  ,         '*'  ■'*'• 

An^rfor  thi«,' the  two  last  rules  seture 


AVXTH  THK  DEISTS.  17 

lis  as  much  as  the  two  first  rules  in  the 
tormer  case  ;  for  whenever  such  a  matter 
of  fact  came  to  be  invented,  if  not  only 
monuments  were  said  to  remain  of  it,  but 
likewise  that  public  actions  and  observances 
were  constantly  used,  ever  since  the  matter 
of  fact  was  said  to  be  done,  the  deceit  must 
be  detected,  by  no  such  monuments  appear- 
ing, and  by  the  experience  of  every  man, 
woman,  and  child,  who  must  know  that  no 
such  actions,  or  observances,  were  ever 
used  by  them.  For  example,  suppose  I 
should  now  invent  a  story  of  such  a  thing- 
done  a  thousand  years  ago,  I  might  perhaps 
get  some  to  believe  it :  but  if  I  sa}-  that  not 
only  such  a  thing  was  done,  but  that  from 
that  day  to  this,  ev^rv  man  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years  had  a  joint  of  his  little  finger 
cut  off;  and  that  every  man  in  tlie  nation 
did  want  a  joint  of  such  a  finger ;  and  that 
this  institution  v/as  said  to  be  part  of  the 
matter  of  fact  done  so  many  years  ago,  and 
vouched  as  a  proof  and  confirmation  of  it, 
and  as  having  descended,  without  interrup- 
tion, and  been  constantly  practised,  in  me- 
mory of  such  matter  of  fact  all  along  from  the 
time  that  such  matter  of  fact  was  done  :  J 
say,  it  is  impossible  I  should  be  believed 
in  such  a  case;  because  every  one  could 
contradict  me,  as  to  the  mark,  of  cutting  off 
B  2 


13  EASY  METHOD 

a  jomt  of  the  firi^er';''afid  that  being  part 
of  n'ly  original  matter  of  fact,  must  demon- 
str^ite  the  whole  to  be  false. 

in.  Let  us  now  come  to  the  second 
point,  to  shov/,  that  the  matters  of  fact  of 
Moses,  and  of  Christ,  have  all  these  rules  or 
marks  before  mentioned  :  and  that  neither 
the  matter  of  fact  of  Mah<imet,  or  what  is 
reported  of  the  heathen  deities,  have  the 
like  :  and  that  no  impostui^  can  have  them 
all. 

'  .t.  As  to  Moses,  I  suppose  it  will  be  al>- 
lowed  me,  that  he  could  not  have  persuad- 
ed 600,000  men,  that  he  had  brought  them 
■6tit  of  Egypt,  through  the  Ked  sea ;  fed 
them  forty  years,  without  Thread,'  by  raira* 
culcus  irianna ;  and  the  other  matters  of  fact 
recorded  in  his  books,  if  they  had  not  been 
true  ;  because  every  man's  senses  that  were 
then  alive,  must  have  contradicted  it:  and 
therefore  he  must  have  imposed  upon  all 
their  senses,  if  he  could  have  made  them 
believe  it,  when  it  was  false,  and  no  such 
things  done.  So  that  here  are  the  first  and 
seconcl  of  the  above  mentioned  four  marks. 

For  the  same  reason,  it  was  equally  im- 
possible for  him  to  have  made  them  receive 
his  five  books  as  truth,  and  not  to  have 
rejected  them,  as  a  manifest  imposture, 
which  toid  of  all  these  things  as  clone  be- 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  19 

fore  their  eyes,  if  they  had  not  been  so  done. 
See  how  positiv^ely  he  speaks  to  them,  Deiit, 
xi.  2 — 8.  Arid  know  ye  this  day :  for  I 
speak  not  imth  your  children  which  have 
not  knoxvn^  and  which  have  not  seen  the 
<:hastisement  of  the  Lord  your  God^  his 
greatness^  his  mighttj  hand^  and  his  stretch- 
ed-out  arm  ;  and  his  miracles^  and  his  acts 
which  he  did  in  the  midst  of  Egypt^  unto 
Pharaoh  the  king  of  Egypt ^  and  unto  all 
his  land ;  and  what  he  did  unto  the  armij 
of  Egypt^  unto  their  horses^  and  to  their 
chariots^  how  he  made  the  water  of  the  Red 
sea  to  overjiorv  them  as  they  pursued  after 
yoii^  and  how  the  Lord  hath  destroyed  them 
unto  this  day  ;  and  rvhat  he  did  unto  you  in 
the  ruilderjiess^  until  ye  came  unto  this 
place  ;  and  what  he  did  unto  Dathan  and 
Ahiram^  the  sons  of  Eliah^  the  son  of  Rhu- 
ben :  hoiv  the  earth  opened  her  mouthy  and 
sxvallowed  them  up^  and  their  households^ 
and  their  tents^  and  all  the  substance  that 
was  in  their  possession^  in  the  midst  of  all 
Israel,  But  your  eyes  have  seen  all  the 
great  a^ts  of  the  Lord^  which  he  did^  Sec. 

From  hence  we  must  suppose  it  impos- 
sible, that  these  books  of  Moses,  if  an  im- 
posture, could  have  been  invented,  and  put 
upon  the  people  who  were  then  alive  )Yhen 
all  these  things  -were  said  to  be  done.  "^ 


20  EASY  iVtETIIOJ> 

The  utmost  therefore,  that  even  ii  supfios? 
can  stretch  to,  is,  that  these  books  wey^ 
wrote  in  some  age  after  Moses,  and  put 
out  in  his  name. 

And  to  this  I  say,  that  if  it  was  ro,  it 
was  impossible  that  those  books  should  have 
been  received  as  the  books  of  Moses,  in  that 
age  wherein  they  may  have  been  supposed 
to  have  been  first  invented.  Why  ?  Because 
they  speak  of  themselves  as  delivered  by 
Moses,  and  kept  in  the  ark  from  his  time. 
And  it  came,  to  pass^  -when  Moses  had  made 
an  end  of  writing  the  words  of  this  laxu  in 
a  book^  until  theij  -were  finished  ;  that  Moses 
commanded  the  Levites  ■which  bear  the  ark 
of  the  covenant  of  the  Lor  d^  sayings  take  this 
hook  of  the  laiv^  and  put  it  in  the  side  of  tJie 
ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  your  God^  that 
it  may  be  there  for  a  rvitness  against  thee^ 
Deut.  xxxi.  24,  25,  26.  And  there  was  a 
copy  of  this  book  to  be  left  likewise  with 
the  king.  And  it  shall  be  when  he  sitteth  up- 
on the  throne  of  his  kingdom^  that  he  shall 
write  him  a  copy  of  this  law  in  a  book^  out 
of  that  -which  is  before  the  priests  the  Le- 
vites. And  it  shall  be  with  him^  and  he  shall 
read  therein  all  the  days  of  hi^-  ife;  that  he 
may  learn  to  fear  the  Lord  his  God^  to-  keep 
^llMe  words  of  this  law^  and  these  stakUtes^ 
iq  do  themy  Deut.  xvii.  18,  19. 


AVITH  THE  DEISTS.  *2l 

Here  you  see  that  this  book  of  the  law 
speaks  of  itself,  not  only  as  an  history  or 
relation  of  what  things  were  then  done  ;  but 
as  the  standing  and  municipal  law  and  sta- 
tutes of  the  nation  of  the  Jews,  binding  the 
king  as  well  as  the  people. 

Now,  in  whatever  age  after  Moses  you 
will  suppose  this  book  to  have  been  forged, 
it  was  impossible  it  could  be  received  as 
truth  ;  because  it  was  not  then  to  be  found, 
cither  in  the  ark,  or  with  the  king,  or  any 
where  else  :  for  when  first  invented,  every 
body  must  know,  that  they  had  never  heard 
of  it  before. 

And  therefore  they  could  less  believe  it 
to  be  the  book  of  their  statutes,  and  the 
standing  law  of  the  land,  which  they  had  all 
along  received,  and  by  which  they  had  been 
governed. 

Could  any  man,  now  at  this  day,  invent 
a  book  of  statutes,  or  acts  of  parliament,  for 
England,  and  make  it  pass  upon  the  nation 
as  the  only  book  of  statutes  that  ever  they 
had  known  ?  As  impossible  was  it  for  the 
books  of  Moses  (if  they  were  invented  in 
any  age  after  Moses)  to  have  been  received 
for  what  they  declare  themselves  to  be,  viz. 
the  statutes  and  municipal  law  of  the  nation 
of  the  Jews ;  and  to  have  persuaded  the 


2^  EASY  METHOD 

Jews,  that  they  had  owned  and  acknow- 
ledged these  books,  all  along  from  the  day 
of  Moses,  to  that  day  in  which  thy  were 
first  invented  :  that  is,  that  they  had  owned 
them  before  they  had  ever  so  much  as  heard 
of  them.  Nay,  more,  the  whole  nation  must, 
In  an  instant,  forget  their  former  laws  and 
government,  if  they  could  receive  theses 
books,  as  being  their  former  laws.  And  they 
could  not  otherwise  receive  them,  because 
they  vouch  themselves  so  to  he.  Let  me  ask 
the  Deists  but  this  one  short  question,  was 
there  ever  a  book  of  sham  laws,  which  were 
not  the  laws  of  the  nation,  palmed^  upon 
any  people  since  the  world  began  ?  If  not» 
with  what  face  can  they  say  this  of  the  book 
of  the  laws  of  the  Jews  ?  Why  will  they  say 
that  of  them,  which  they  confess  impossible 
in  any  nation  or  among  any  people  ? 
*  But  they  must  be  yet  more  unreasonable. 
For  the  books  of  Moses  have  a  further  de- 
monstration of  their  truth,  than  even  other 
law  books  have  ;  for  they  not  only  contain 
the  laws,  but  give  an  historical  account  of 
their  institution,  and  the  practice  of  them 
from  that  tirtie  :  as  of  the  passover,  in:  me- 
mory of  the  death  of  the  first-born  in  Egypt* 
and  that  the  same  day,  all'  the  first-born  of 
Israel,  both  of  man  and  beast,  were,  by  a 

*  ^umb.  viii.  ir,  18. 


AVXTH  THE  DEISTS^.  >^2J 

perpetual  law,  dedicated  to  Crod  ,*  and  the 
-ijfevites  taken  for  all  the  first-born  of  the 
-iehildren  of  Israel :  that  Aaron's  rod  which 
fibiidded;  was  kept  in  the  ark,  in  memory  bf 
^#ie  rebellion  and  wonderful  destruction  of 
■^Korah,  Dathan,  and  Abiram  :  and  for  the 
r^^nfirmation  of  the  priesthood  to  the  tribe 
'Aif  J^evi :   as  likewise  the  pot  of  manna,  in 
-=4iEiemory  of  their  having  been  fed  with  it 
-forty  years  in  the  wilderness  :  that  the  bra- 
zen serpent  was  kept  (which  remained  to 
the  days  of  Hezekiah,  2  Kings  xviii.  4)  in 
memory  of  that  wonderful  deliverance,  by 
-onlyiooking  upon  it,  from  the  biting  of  the 
~^ery  serpent.  Numb.   xxi.  9  :    the  feast  of 
'-Pentecost,  in  memory  of  the  dreadful  ap- 
.-'pearance  of  God  upon  mount  Horeb,  ^c, 
xVnd  besides  these  remembrances  of  par- 
ticular actions  and  occurrences,  there  were 
other  solemn  institutions  in  memory  of  their 
deliverance  out  of  Egypt,  in  the  general, 
which  included  all  the  particulars  ;    as  of 

•  the  Sabbath,  Deut,  v.  1 5 ;  their  daily  sacri- 
^-fices,  and  yearly  expiation ;  their  new  moons 
-and  several  feasts  and  fasts.     So  that  there 

•  were  yearly,  monthly,  weekly,  daily  remem- 
brances and  recognitions  of  these  things. 

And  not  only  so,  but  the  books  of  the 
same  JMoses  tell  us,  that  a  particular  tribe 
(of  Levi)  was  appointed  and  consecraled 


24  EASY  METHOD 

by  God,  as  his  priests;  by  whose  hands, 
and  none  other,  the  sacrifices  of  the  people 
were  to  be  offered,  and  these  solemn  insti- 
.tLitions  to  be  celebrated:  that  it  was  death 
for  any  other  to  approach  the  altar:  that 
their  high  priest  wore  a  glorious  mitre,  and 
magnificent  robes  of  God's  own  contrivance, 
rJwith  the  miraculous  Urim  and  Thummim 
in  his  breast-plate,  whence  the  divine  res- 
ponses were  given"^ :  that,  at  his  word,  the 
king,  and  all  the  people,  were  to  go  out, 
and  to  come  in  :  that  these  Levites  were 
likewise  the  chief  judges,  even  in  all  civil 
causes  ;  and  that  it  was  death  to  resist  their 
sentence! .  Now,  whenever  it  can  be  suppo- 
sed, tliat  these  books  of  Moses  v/ere  forged, 
in  some  ages  after  Moses,  it  is  impossible.^ 
they  could  have  been  received  as  true,  un- 
less the  forgers  could  have  made  the  whole 
nation  believe,  that  they  had  received  these 
books  from  their  fathers ;  had  been  instruct- 
ed in  them  when  they  were  children,  and 
had  taught  them  to  their  children;  moreo- 
ver, that  they  had  all  been  circumcised,  and 
did  circumcise  their  children  in  pursuance 
ftp,  what  was  commanded  in  these  books ; 
that  they  had  observed  the  yearly  passover, 
the  weekly  sabbath,  the  new  moons,  and 
all  these  several  feasts,  fasts,  and  ceremo- 

*^Vx/7^.  xxvi).  21.  fBeit-t.  xVii.  8.  1-31  C^rorj.xxili.4- 


UIXH  THE  DEISTS,  25 

nies,  commanded  in  these  books  :  that  they 
had  never  eaten  any  swine's  flesh,  or  other 
meats  prohibited  in  these  books ;  that  they 
**i  h^d  a  magnificent  tabernacle,  with  a  visible 
■'priesthood  to  administer  in  it,  which  w^as 
confined  to  the  tribe  of  Levi;  over  whom 
was  placed  a  glorious  high  priest,  clothed 
with  great  and  mighty  prerogatives  ;  whpse 
—  death  only  could  deliver  those  that.w^ere 
-'^^fled  to  the  cities  of  refuge'*  ;  and  that  these 
priests  were  their  ordinary  judges,  even  in 
civil  matters  :  I  say,  was  it  possible  to 
have  persuaded  a  whole  nation  of  men,  that 
they  had  known  and  practised  all  these 
things,  if  they  had  not  done  it?  oy^  secondly^ 
to  have  received  a  book  for  truth,  which 
said  they  had  practised  them,  and  appealed 
to  that  practice  ?  so  that  here  are  the  third 
and  fourth  of  the  marks  above  men- 
tioned. 

But  now  let  us  descend  to  the  utmost  de- 
gree of  supposition,  viz*  That  these  things 
were  practised  before  these  books  of  Mo- 
£es  were  forged  :  and  that  these  books  did 
only  impose  upon  the  nation,  in  making 
them  believe,  that  they  had  kept  these  obser- 
vances in  memory  of  such  and  such  things 
as  were  inserted  in  those  books. 

*  Xiutib.  XXXV.  25,  ?8, . 
C 


oG  EASY  METHOI) 

-•  ■ . '  .  /■ 

Well^  then,  let  us  proceed  upon  thi$  sup- 
position, however  groundless.     And  now, 
"*ViU  not  the  same  impossibilities  occur  as  in 
■^^  the  former  casei*  ioi\  firsty  this  must  sup- 
'•■•pose  that  the  Jews  kept  all  these  obseryan- 
•  Ce^  in  memory  of  nothing,.or  without  know- 
ing any  thing  of  their  original,  or  the  rea- 
•^bn  why  they  kept  them:   whereas  these 
Very  observances  did   express  the  ground 
-  and  reason  of  their  being  kept ;  as  the;pass- 
over,  in    memory  of   God's  passing  over 
"'the  children  of  the  Israelites,  in  that  night 
wherein  he  slew  all  the  first-born  of  JE«ypt; 
and  so  of  the  rest.  But, 

iSeeofidlfjy  IjQt  us  suppose,  contrary  both 
to  reason  and  matter  of  fact,  that  the  Jews 
-did  not  know  any  reason  at  all  why  they 
kept  these  observances  ;  yet  was.it  possible 
to  put  it  upon  them,  that  they  had  kept 
these  observances  in  memory  of  what  they 
had  never  heard  of  before  that  day,  when- 
soever you  will  suppose  that  these  books  of 
3Ioses  were  first  forged  ?  For  example, 
suppose  I  should  now  forge  some  romantic 
story,  of  strange  things  done  a  thousand 
years  ago  ;  and,  in  confirmation  of  this, 
should  efideavour  to  pursuade  the  Christian 
world,  that  they  had  all  along,  from  that 
day  to  this,  kept  the  first  day  of  the  week 


AVITH  THE  DETSTS.  27 

in  memon:  of  such  a  hero,  an  Apollonins, 
a  Barcosbas,  or  a  Mahomet ;  and  had  all 
been  baptised  in  his  name ;  and  swore  by 
his  name,  and  upon  that  very  book,  (which 
I  had  then  forged,  and  which  they  never 
saw  before)  in  their  public  judicatures  ;  that 
this  book  was  their  gospel,  and  law,  which 
they  had  ever  since  that  time,  these  thou- 
sand years  past,  universally  received  and 
owned,  and  none  other  :  I  would  ask  any 
Deist,  whether  he  thinks  it  possible,  that 
such  a  cheat  could  pass,  or  such  a  legend  be 
received,  as  the  gospel  of  Christians  ?  and 
that  they  could  be  made  believe,  that  they 
never  had  had  any  other  gospel  ?  the  same 
reason  is  as  to  the  books  of  Moses  :  and 
must  be  as  to  every  matter  of  fact  which  has 
all  the  four  marks  before  mentioned.  And 
these  marks  secure  any  such  matter  of  fact 
as  much  from  being  invented  and  imposed 
in  any  after  ages^  as  at  the  time  when  such 
matters  of  fact  were  said  to  be  done. 

Let  me  give  one  very  familiar  example 
more  in  this  case.  There  is  the  Stonhenge  in 
Salisbury  plain,  every  body  knows  it ;  and 
yet  none  knows  the  reason  -why  those  great 
stones  were  set  there,  or  by  whom,  or  in- 
memory  of  what. 

•  Now,  suppose  I  should^,  write  a  book  to- 
morrow, and  tell  there,  thatthcse  stones  were 


28  ,     EASY  METHOD 

set  up  by  Hercules,  Polyphemus,  or  Gara- 
grtntua,  in  memory  of  such  and  such  of  their 
adtions  ;  and  for  a  further  confirmation  of 
this,  should  say  in  this  book,  that  it  was 
wrote  at  the  time  when  such  actions  were 
done,  and  by  the  very  actors  themselves,  or 
eye- witnesses  ;  and  that  this  book  had  been 
received  as  truth,  and  quoted  by  authors  of 
the  greatest  reputation  in  all  ages  since  ; 
moreover  that  this  book  was  well  known 
in  England,  and  injoined  by  act  of  parlia- 
ment to  be  taught  our  children  ;  and  that 
we  did  teach  it  to  our  children,  and  had 
been  taught  it  ourselves  when  we  were  chil- 
dren :  I  ask  any  Deist,  whether  he  thinks 
this  could  pass  upon  England  ?  and  w^hether 
if  I  or  any  other,  should  insist  upon  it,  we 
should  not,  instead  of  being  believed,  be 
sent  to  "Bedlam  ? 

Now  let  us  compare  this  with  the  Ston- 
hengc,  as  I  may  call  it,  or  twelve  great 
stones  set  up  at  Gilgal,  which  is  told  in  the 
4th  chapter  of  Joshva.  I'hcre  it  is  said, 
V.  8.  That  the  reason  why  they  were  set  up 
was,  that  when  their  children,  in  after  ages, 
should  ask  the  meaning  of  it,  it  should  be 
told  them. 

And  the  thing  iiv  memory  of  which  they 
were  set  up,  was  such  as  could  not  possibly 
be  imposed  upon  that  nation,  at  that  time 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  29 

when  it  was  said  to  be  done,  it  was  as  won- 
derful and  miraculous  as  their  passage 
through  the  Red  sea. 

And  withal  free  from  a  very  poor  ob- 
jection, which  the  Deists  have  advanced 
against  that  miracle  of  the  Red  sea  :  think- 
ing to  salve  it  by  a  spring-tide  with  the  con- 
currence of  a  strong  wind  happening  at  the 
same  time ;  which  left  the  sand  so  dry,  ap 
that  the  Israelites,  being  all  foot,  might  pass 
through  the  oozy  places  and  holes,  which, 
it  must  be  supposed,  the  sea  left  behind  it : 
but  that  the  Egyptians,  being  all  horse  and 
chariots,  stuck  in  those  holes,  and  were  in- 
tangled,  so  that  they  could  not  march  so 
fast  as  the  Israelites  :  and  that  this  wras  all 
the  meaning  of  its  being  said,  that  God 
took  off  their  (the  Egpytians)  chariot- 
wheels,  that  they  drove  them  heavily.  So 
that  they  would  make  nothing  extraordi- 
nary, at  least  not  miraculous,  in  all  this 
action. 

This  is  advanced  in  Le  Clerc's  disserta- 
tions upon  Genesis^  lately  printed  in  Hol- 
land.^ And  that  pan,  with  others  of  the 
like  tendency,  endeavouring  to  resolve 
other  miracles,  as  that  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah, &c.  into  the  mere  natural  causes, 

'  I.c  Clerc  lived  to  recant  his  opmion. 


30  EASY  METHOD 

are  put  into  English  by  the  well  known  T». 
Brown,  for  the  edification  of  the  Deiats  in 
England.  ^   -  • 

Bat  these  gentlemen  have  forgot,  that 
'the  Israelites  had  great  herds  of  manv  thou- 
sand cattle  with  thtm  ;  which  would  be 
apter  to  stray,  and  fall  into  those  holes  and 
oozy  places  in  the  sand,  than  horses,  with 
riders,  who  might  direct  them.  '^       ; 

But  such  precarious  and  silly  supposes 
are  not  worth  the  answering.  If  there  had 
been  no  more  in  this  passage  through  the 
Red  sea  than  that  of  a  spring-tide,  &c.  it 
had  been  impossible  for  Moses  to  hav.e 
made  the  Israelites  believe  that  relation 
gtv^en-of  it  "in  Exodus^  with  so  many  parti- 
culars, which  themselves  saw  to  be  true.  , 
•  And  all  those  scriptures  which  magnify 
this  action,  and  appeal  to  it  as  a  full  de- 
monstration of  the  miraculous  power  of 
(jod,  must  be  reputed  as  romance  or  le- 
gend, 

I  say  this  for  the  sake  of  some  Christi- 
ans, who  think  it  no  prejudice  to  the  truth 
of  the  Holy  Bible,  but  rather  an  advantage, 
as  renderingiit  more  easy  to  be  believed,  if 
they  can  solve  whatever  seems  miraculous 
in  it,  by  the  power  of  second  causes  ;  and 
so  to  make  all,  as  they  speak,  natural  and 
easy.     Wherein,  U'  they  could  prjevail,  the 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  CI 

natural,  and  easy  result  would  be,  not  to 
believe  one  word  in  all  those  sacred  ora- 
cles :  for  if  things  be  not  as  they  are  told 
in  any  relation,  that  relation  must  be  false,; 
and  if  false  in  part,  we  cannot  trust  to  it, 
either  in  whole,  or  in  part. 

Here  are  to  be  excepted  mistranslations 
and  errors,  either  in  copy,  or  in  press.  But 
where  there  is  no  room  for  supposing  of 
these,  as  where  all  copies  do  agree,  there 
we  must  either  receive  all,  or  reject  all :  I 
mean  in  any  book  that  pretends  to  be  writ- 
ten from  the  mouth  of  God  ;  for  in  other 
€ommbii  histories,  we  may  believe  part,  and 
^Z^ect  pai"t,  as  we  see  cause, 
^t,;  But  to  return  :  The  passage  of  the  Isra- 
elites over  Jordan,   in  memory  of  which 
those  stones  at  Gilgal  were  set  up,  is  free 
from  all  those  little  carpings  before-men- 
tioned, that  are  made   as   to   the  passage 
through  the  1R.g(\  sea  ;  for  notice  was  given 
to  the  ,Isr,aelites  the  day  before,  of  this  great 
miracle  to  be  done,  yos/i.  iii.  5.     It  was 
,,done  at  noon-day,  before  the  whole  nation. 
^,And  when  the  waters  of  Jordan  were  di- 
^'.Vided,  it  Avas  not  at  any  low  ebb,  but  at 
.'^the  time  when  that  river  overflowed  all  his 
banks,  v.  15.     And  it  was  done,  not  by 
winds,  or  in  length  of  time,  which  winds 
must  take  to  do  it ;  but  all  on  the  sudden : 


^2  EASY  METHOD 

As  soon  as  the  feet  of  the  priests  that  bare 
the  ark^  were  dipped  in  the  brim  of  the  xva- 
ter^  then  the  waters  which  came  doxvnfrom 
above^  stood  and  rose  up  upon  an  heap^  very 
far  from  the  city  Adam^  that  is  beside  Za~ 
retan^  and  those  that  came  down  toxvard  the 
sea  of  the  plain^  even  the  salt-sea  failed^  and 
xvere  cut  off:  and  the  people  passed  over 
rig'ht  against  Jericho*  The  priests  stood 
in  the  midst  of  Jordan,  until  all  the  armies 
of  Israel  had  passed  over.  And  it  came  to 
pass^  xvhen  the  priests  that  bare  the  ark  of 
the  covenant  of  the  Lord^  "were  come  up  out 
of  the  midst  of  Jordan^  and  the  soles  of  the 
priests'*  feet  xvere  lift  upon  the  dry  kmd^ 
that  the  xuaters  of  Jordan  returned  unto 
their  place^  and  foxved  over  all  his  banks^ 
as  they  did  before.  And  the  people  came 
up  out  of  Jordan  on  the  tenth  day  of  the 
first  months  and  encamped  in  GilgcU  in  the 
east  border  of  Jericho*  And  those  twelve 
stories  xvhich  they  '  took  out  of  JordaUy 
did  Joshua  pitch  in  GilgaL  And  he  spake 
unto  the  children  of  Israel^  sayings  When 
your  children  shall  ask  their  fathers  in  time 
to  come,  saying,  What  mean  these  stones  ? 
then  ye  shcill  let  your  children  knoxv,  saying, 
Israel  came  over  this  Jordan  on  dry  land* 
For  the  Lord  your  God  dried  up  the  waters 
of  Jordan  from  b  fore  you,  until  ye^xveve 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  33 

passed  over ^  as  the  Lord  your  Gcd  didto  tlie 
Red  sea^  which  he  dried  up  froni  before  uSy 
until  xve  were  ^one  over  ;  that  all  the  peo- 
ple of  the  earth  might'  know  the^hand  of  the 
Lordy  that  it  is  mighty  :  that  yemight  fear 
the  Lord  your  God  for  ever,  chap.  iy.  trom 
V.  18.  ^ 

If  the  passage  over  the  Red  sea  had  been 
only  takmg  advantage  of  a  sprmg-tide,' or 
the  like  ;  how  would  this  teach  all  the  peo^  " 
pie  of  the  earth,  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  ' 
was  mighty  ?  How  would  a  thing  no  more 
remarkable,  have  been  taken  notice  of 
through  all  the  world  ?  How  would  it 
have  taught  Israel  to  fear  the  Lord,  when 
they  mu&t  know,  that,  notwithstanding  of 
all  these  big  words,  there  was  so  little  in 
it  ?  How  could  they  have  believed,  or  re- 
ceived a  book  as  truth,  which  they  knew 
told  the  matter  so  far  otherwise  from  what 
it  was  ?     , 

But,  as  I  said,  this  passage  over  Jordan, 
which  is  here  compared  to  that  of  the  Red 
sea,  is  free  from  all  those  cavils  that  are 
made  as  to  that  of  the  Red  sea ;  and  is  a 
further  attestation  to  it,  being  said  to  be- 
done  in  the  same  manner,  as  was  that  of 
the  Red  sea. 

Now,  to  form  our  argument,  let  us  sup- 
pose, that  there  never  was  any  such  thing 


54  KASY  METHOD 

as  that  passage  over  Jordan  ;  that  these 
stones  at  Gilgal  were  set  up  upon  some 
other  occasion,  in  some  after  age  ;  and  then 
that  some  designing  man  invented  this  book 
of  Joshua^  and  said,  that  it  was  wrote  by 
Joshua  at  that  time ;  and  gave  this  stonage 
at  Gilgal,  for  a  testimony  of  the  truth  of 
it :  Would  not  every  body  say  to  him,'  We 
know  the  stonage  at  Gilgal ;  but  we  never 
heard  before  of  this  reason  for  it,  nor  ofc; 
this  book  of  Joshua :  Where  has  it  been  • 
all  this  while  ?  and  where,  and  how  came 
you,  after  so  many  ages,  to  find  it?  Be- 
sides, this  book  tells  us,  that  this  passage 
over  Jordan  was  ordained  to  be  taught  our 
children,  from  age  to  age  ;  and  therefore 
that  they  were  always  to  be  instructed  in 
the  meaning  of  that  stonage  at  Gilgal,  as  a 
memorial  of  it :  but  we  were  never  taught 
it  when  we  were  children,  nor  did  ever 
teach  our  children  any  such  thing :  And  it 
is  not  likely  chat  could  have  been  forgotten, 
while  so  remarkable  a  stonage  did  conti- 
nue, which  was  set  up  for  that,  Jlnd  no 
other  end. 

And  if,  for  the  reasons  before  given,  no 
such  imposition  could  be  put  upon  us  as  to 
the  stonage  in  Salisbury  plain";  how  much 
less  could  it  be  as  to  the  gtonage  at  Gilgal  ? 

And  if,  where  we  know  not  the  reason 


\nTH  THE  DEISTS.  35 

ot  a  bare  naked  monument,  such  a  sham 
reason  cannot  be  imposed  ;  how  much  more 
is  it  impossible  to  impose  upon  us  in  ac- 
tions and  observances  v/hich  we  celebrate 
in  memory  of  particular  passages  ;  how 
iinipossible  to  make  us  forget  those  pas- 
sages which  we  daily  commemorate,  and 
persuade  us,  that  we  had  always  kept  such 
institutions  in  memory  of  what  we  never 
heard  of  before  ;  that  is,  that  we  knew  it 
before  we  knew  it. 

And  if  we  find  it  thus  impossible  for  an 
imposition  to  be  put  upon  us,  even  in  some 
things  which  have  not  ali  the  four  marks 
before-mentioned  ;  how  much  more  impos- 
sible is  it,  that  any  deceit  should  be  in. that 
thing  where  all  the  four  marks  do  meet  ? 

This  has  been  showed,  in  the  first  place, 
as  to  the  matters  of  fact  of  Moses. - 

2.  Therefore  I  come  now,  secondly^  to 
show,  that,  as  in  the  matters  of  fact  of 
Moses,  so  likewise  all  these  four  marks  do 
meet  in  the  matters  of  fact  which  are  re- 
corded in  the  gospel  of  our  blessed  Saviour. 
And  my  work  herein  will  be  the  shorter ; 
because  all  that  is  said  before,  of  Moses 
^and  his  books,  is  every  way  applicable  to 
Christ  and  his  gospel.  His  works  and  mi- 
racles are  there  said  to  be  done  publicly, 
in  the  face  of  tlie  world  ;  as  he  argued  to 


,  .;56  ,     EASY  METHOD 

h.)^SiCC}istYS,  Ispake  open^ly  to  the  world,  and 

iji  secret  have  I  said  nothings  John  xviii. 

io.  It  is  told,  Acts  lu  41.  that  three  thou- 
^/sahd  at  one  tjme,  and,  Acts  iv.  4.  that  above 
^^^ 'iive  thousand  at  anotlier  time,  were  con- 

y ertedji  upon  conviction  of  what  themselves 
f  liad'Seen,  what  had  been  done  publicly  be- 
,jfpi*e  their  ej^es,  w^herein  it  was  impossible 
'  to  have '  imposed  upon  them.  Therefore 
J   here.\v^ere  the  two  first  of  the  rules  before- 

ineritioiifed.* 

'  *  The  instantaneous  conversion  of  thousands  was 
.wrought  by  means  of  public  appeals  to  notorious 
matter  ^f  fact.  Hear  the  lang-uage  of  the  Apostles 
to  tlie  Jews  :  21iis  ye  ymirsehes  Know,  Acts  it.  24. 
Ye  KNOW  the  thingg  done  thvoiigh  all  Jwffea,  Acts 
X,  37,  38.  The  king  knoweth  these  'things..  Tlds 
thing  ivas  li or  done  in  a  corner. .^  Acts  xxvi.  26.  Now 
jf  Christianity  is  not  founded  upon  indubitable  facts, 
might  you  not  as  well  believe,  that  twelve  men  broke 
loose  from  Bedlam,  last  year,  brought  thousands  of 
Deists  over  to  Christianity,  by  saying  to  them,  "  Je 
knoxv^' — what  you  are  perfect  strangers  to;  that  is, 
*'  Ve  kno-iv" — that  we  are  a  pack  of  bedlamites  ? 

If  the  gospel  is  forged,  you  believe  that  the  Co- 
rinthians, &c.  handed  do v/n  to  posterity,  as  a  sacred 
treasure.  Epistles  where  St.  Paul  mentions  their 
amazing  conversion  from  gross  immoralities;  con- 
gratulates them  about  the  spiritual  or  miraculous 
gifts,  in  which  they  abounded,  1  Cor.  xii.  1.  and 
gives  them  particular  directions,  how  to  use  ihe  gift 
of  tongues  to  edification ;  when  yet  they  were  totally 
imrxquainted  with  any  such  things?      '  '     , 

If  you  believe  ^vit!^  some  infidels,  that  tliS  history 

■■     ■         ■■■-■■:-  '■;.    :.:iij    1         •  .;.; 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  ^f 

*rhen  for  the  two  second  :  Baptism  and 
the  Lord's  supper  were  instituted  as  perpe- 
tual memorials  of  these  things  :  and  they 
were  not  instituted  in  afar  ages,  but  at  the 
i-ery  time  when  these  things  were  said  to 
be  done  ;  and  have  been  observed  without 
interruption  in  all  ages  through  the  whole 
Christian  world,  down  ail  the  way  from 
that  time  to  this.  And  Christ  himself  did 
ordain  apostles,  and  other  ministers  of  his 
gospel,  to  preach,  and  administer  these  sa- 
craments, and  to  govern  his  church  ;  and 
that  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.*    Accordingly  they,  have  continued 

of  Christ  is  "  a  mere  fable,"  and  that  there  never 
was  such  an  extraordinary  person,  you  believe  that 
the  Heachens,  the  Jews,  and  the  Mahometans,  have 
agreed  with  the  Christians,  their  sworn  enemies,  to 
carry  on  a  most  amazing-  imposture  For  Pliny,  Ta- 
citus, Lucian,  and  Suetonius,  heathen  authors,  who 
lived  soon  after  Christ,  make  express  mention  of 
him  :  as  do  also  Mahomet,  many  of  the  Rabbies,  and 
Julian  tlie  Etnperor,  that  powerful  and  crafty  apos- 
tate, Av'ho  not  only  never  denied  Christ's  existence, 
but  openly  acknowledged  that  Paul,  Mark,  Mat- 
thew, and  Petei*,  were  the  authors  of  the  g-ospels  and 
epistles,  which  bear  their  name.  Now  is  not  this  a» 
ridiculous  as  to  believe,  that  the  Pope,  the  Mufti, 
and  the  inquisitors,  have  laid  their  heads  with 
Messrs.  Voltaire,  Hume,  and  Rousseau,  to  favour  a 
forgery  subversive  of  popen-,  mahometanisni,  and 
ijpfideiitv  ? 

•  ^atth.  xxviJU.  20^ 

P 


38  EASY  METIIOET 

by  regular  succession,  to  this  day  ;  and,  no 
doubt,  ever  shall,  while  the  earth  shall  last* 
So  that  the  Christian  clergy  are  as  notori- 
ous a  matter  of  fact,  as  the  tribe  of  L^vi 
among  the  Jews.  And  the  gospel  is  as. 
much  a  law  to  the  Christians,"  as  the  book 
of  Moses  to  the  Jews  :  and  it  being  part  of 
the  matters  of  fact  related  in  the  gospel, 
tliat  such  an  order  of  men  were  appointed 
b}'  Christ,  and  to  continue  to  the  end  of  the 
vvorld.;  consequently,  if  the  gospel  was  a 
fiction,  and  invented  (as  it  must  be)  in 
some  ages  after  Christ;  then,  at  that  time 
when  it  was  first  invented,  there  could  be 
no  such  order  of  clergy  as  derived  them- 
selves from  the  institution  of  Christ ;  which 
lYiust  give  the  lie  to  the  gospel,  and  demon- 
strate the  whole  to  be  false.  And  the  mat- 
ters of  fact  of  Christ  being  pressed  to  be 
true,  no  otherwise  than  as  there  was,  at  that 
time,  (whenever  the  Deists  will  suppose  the 
gospel  to  be  forged)  not  only  public  sacra- 
ments of  Christ's  institution,  but  an  order 
of  clergy  likewise,  of  his  appointment,  to 
administer  them  ;  and  it  being-  impossible 
there  could  be  any  such  things  before  they 
were  invented,  it  is  as  impossible  that  they, 
should  be  received  wheri  invented.  Aiid 
therefore,  by  what  was  said  above,' it  was 
as  impossible  to  have  imposed  upon  man. 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  39 

kind  In  this  matter,  by  inventing  of  it  in 
after  ages,  as  at  the  time  when  those  things 
were  said  to  be  done. 

3.  The  matters  of  fact  of  Mahomet,  or 
what  is  fabled  of  the  Heathen  deities,  do 
all  want  some  of  the  aforesaid  four  rules, 
whereby  the  certainty  of  matters  of  fact  is 
demonstrated.  First,  For  Mahomet,  he 
pretended  to  no  miracles,  as  he  tells  us  in 
his  Alcoran,  chap.  6,  &c.  and  those  which 
^^re  commonly  told  of  him,  pass  among  the 
Mahometans  themselves  but  as  legendary 
fables ;  and  as  such,  are  rejected  by  the 
wise  and  learned  among  them,  as  the  le- 
gends of  their  saints  are  in  the  church  of 
Rome.  See  Dr.  Prideaux's  Life  of  Ma- 
homet, p.  34. 

But,  in  the  next  place,  those  v/hich  are 
told  of  him  do  all  want  the  two  first  rules 
before-mentioned.  For  his  pretended  con- 
verse with  the  moon  ;  his  mersa,  or  night- 
journey  from  Mecca  to  Jerusalem,,  and 
thence  to  Heaven,  &c.  were  not  performed- 
before  any  body.  We  have  only  his  own 
v/ord  for  them.  And  they  are  as  ground- 
less as  the  delusions  of  Fox,  or  Muggleton, 
among  ourselves. 

The  same  is  to  be  said,  in  the  second 
place,  of  the  fcibles  of  the  Heathen  gods, 
of  Mercury's  stealing  sheep,  Jupiter's  turn- 


40  «.   EASY  METHOD 

ing  himself  into  a  bull,  and  the  like :  be- 
sides the  folly  and  unworthiness  of  such 
senseless  pretended  miracles.  And  more- 
over, the  wise  among  the  Heathen  did 
reckon  no  otherwise  of  these  but  as  fables, 
which  had  a  mythology,  or  mystical  mean- 
ing in  them ;  of  which  several  of  them  have 
given  us  the  rationale^  or  explication.  And 
it  is  plain  enough,  that  Ovid  meant  no 
other  by  all  his  metamorphoses. 

It  is  true,  the  Heathen  deities  had  their 
priests  :  they  had  likewise  feasts,  games, 
and  other  public  institutions  in  memory  of 
them.  But  all  these  want  the  fourth  mark, 
viz.  That  such  priesthood  and  institutions 
should  commence  from  the  time  that  such 
things  as  they  commemorate  were  said  to  be 
done,  otherwise  they  cannot  secure  after  ages 
from  the  imposture,  by  detecting  it  at  the 
time  when  first  invented,  as  hath  been  ar- 
gued before.  Bat  the  Bacckanalia,  and 
other  Heathen  feasts,  were  instituted  many 
ages  after  what  was  reported  of  these  gods 
was  said  to  be  done,  and  therefore  can  be 
no  proof  of  them.  And  the  priests  of  Bac- 
chus, Apollo,  &c.  were  not  ordained  by 
these  supposed  gods,  but  were  appointed 
by  others,  in  after  ages,  only  in  honour  to 
them.  And  therefore  these  orders  of  priests 
are  no  evidence  to  the  truth  of  the  matters 
of  fact  which  are  reported  of  their  gods. 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  41 

IV.  Now  to  apply  what  has  been  said, 
vou  may  challenge  all  the  Deists  in  the 
world  to  show  any  action  that  is  fabulous, 
which  has  all  the  four  rules  or  marks  be- 
fore-mentioned. No  ;  it  is  impossible. 
And,  to  resume  a  little  what  is  spoke  to 
before,  the  histories  of  Exodus,  and  the 
gospel,  could  never  have  been  received,  if 
they  had  not  been  true  ;  because  the  insti- 
tution of  the  priesthood  of  Levi,  and  of 
Christ,  of  the  sabbath,  the  passo\'er,  of  cir- 
cumcision, of  baptism,  and  the  Lord's  sup- 
per, &c.  are  there  related,  as  descending  all 
the  way  down  from  those  times  without 
interruption.  And  it  is  fall  as  impossible, 
to  persuade  men  that  they  had  been  cir- 
cumcised, baptized,  had  circumcised,  or 
baptized  their  children,  celebrated  passo- 
vers,  sabbaths,  sacraments,  8vC.  under  the 
government  and  administration  of  a  certain 
order  of  priests,  if  they  had  done  none  of 
these  things,  as  to  make  them  believe  that 
they  had  gone  through  seas  upon  dry  land, 
seen  the  dead  raised,  &c.  And  without  be- 
lieving of  these,  it  was  impossible  that 
either  the  law  or  the  gospel  could  have 
been  received. 

And  the  truth  of  the  matters  of  fact  of 
Exodus  and  the  gospel,  being  no  othei'wise 
pressed  upon  men,  than  as  they  have  orac- 
D  2 


42  ^ASY  METHOD 

tised  such  public  institutions,  it  is  appeal- 
ing to  the  senses  of  mankind  for  the  truth 
of  them  :  and  makes  it  impossible  for  any 
to  have  invented  such  stories  in  after  ages, 
without  a  palpable  detection  of  the  cheat, 
when  first  invented;  as  impossible  as  to 
have  imposed  upon  the  senses  of  mankind 
at  the  time  when  such  public  matters  of 
fact  were  said  to  be  done. 

V.  I  do  not  say,  that  every  thing  which 
wants  these  four  marks,  is  false  ;  but  that 
nothing  can  be  false  which  has  them  all. 

There  is  no  manner  of  doubt  that  there 
was  such  a  man  as  Julius  Caesar,  that  he 
fought  at  Pharsalia,  was  killed  in  the  senate 
house,  and  many  other  matters  of  fact  of 
ancient  times,  though  we  keep  no  public 
observances  in  memory  of  them. 

But  this  shows,  that  the  matters  of  fact 
of  Moses,  and  of  Christ,  have  come  down 
to  us  better  guarded  than  any  other  mat- 
ters of  fact,  how  true  soever. 

And  yet  our  Deists,  who  would  laugh 
any  man  out  of  the  world,  as  an  irrational 
brute,  that  should  offer  to  deny  Caesar  or 
Alexander,  Homer  or  Virgil,  their  public 
works  and  actions,  do,  at  the  same  time, 
value  themselves  as  the  only  men  of  wit 
and  sense,  of  free,  generous,  and  unbiassed 
judgments,  for  ridiculing  the  histories  of 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  45 

Moses  and  Christ,  that  are  infinitely  better 
attested,  and  guarded  with  infallible  marks, 
which  the  others  want. 

VI.  Besides,  tliat  the  importance  of  the 
subject  would  oblige  all  men  to  inquire 
more  narrowly  into  the  one  than  the  other. 
For  what  consequence  is  it  to  me,  or  to  the 
world,  v/hether  there  was  such  a  man  as 
Caesar :  whether  he  beat,  or  was  beaten  at 
Pharsalia ;  whether  Homer  or  Virgil  wrote 
such  books ;  and  whether  what  is  related 
in  the  Iliads  or  -Sineids,  be  true,  or  false  ? 
It  is  not  two-pence  up  or  down  to  any  man 
in  the  world.  And  therefore  it  is  worth  no 
man's  while  to  inquire  into  it,  either  to  op- 
pose or  justify  the  truth  of  these  relations. 

But  our  very  souls  and  bodies,  both  this 
life  and  eternity,  are  concerned  in  the  truth 
of  what  is  related  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  ; 
and  therefore  men  would  be  more  inquisi- 
tive to  search  into  the  truth  of  these,  than 
of  any  other  matters  of  fact,  examine  and 
sift  them  narrowly,  and  find  out  the  deceit, 
if  any  such  could  be  found  :  for  it  concern- 
ed them  nearly,  and  was  of  the  last  import- 
ance to  them. 

How  unreasonable,  then,  is  it  to  reject 
these  matters  of  fact,  so  sifted,  so  examin- 
ed, and  so  attested,  as  no  other  matters  of 
fact  in  the  world  ever  were ;  and  yet  to 


44  EASY  METHOD 

think  it  the  most  highly  unreasonable,  even 
to  madness,  to  deny  other  matters  of  fact, 
which  have  not  the  thousandth  part  of  their 
evidence,  and  are  of  no  consequence  at  all 
to  us  whether  true  or  false  ? 

VI T.  There  are  several  other  topics, 
from  whence  the  truth  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion is  evinced  to  all  who  will  judge  by 
reason,  and  give  themselves  leave  to  con- 
sider :  As  the  improbability  that  ten  or 
twelve  poor  illiterate  fishermen  should 
form  a  design  of  converting  the  whole 
world  to  believe  their  delusions;  and  the 
impossibility  of  their  effecting  it,  without 
force  of  arms,  learning,  oratory,  or  any  one 
visible  thing  that  could  recommend  them  ; 
and  to  impose  a  doctrine  quite  opposite  to 
the  lusts  and  pleasures  of  men,  and  all 
worldly  advantages  or  enjoyments  ,•  and 
this  in  an  age  of  so  great  learning  and  sa- 
gacity, as  that  v/herein  the  gospel  was  first 
preached :  That  these  apostles  should  not 
only  undergo  all  the  scorn  and  contempt, 
but  the  severest  persecutions,  and  most 
cruel  deaths,  that  could  be  inflicted,  in  at- 
testation to  what  themselves  knew  to  be  a 
mere  deceit  and  forgery,  of  their  own  con- 
triving. Some  have  suffered  for  errors 
which  the}^  thought  to  be  truth  ;  but  never 
any  for  what  themselves  knew  to  be  lies. 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  45 

And  the  apostles  must  know  what  they 
taught,  to  be  lies,  if  it  was  so  ;  because  they 
spoke  of  those  things  which  they  had  both 
seen  and  heard,  had  looked  upon  and  han- 
dled with  their  hands,  t<c,^ 

Ntither  can  it  be  said,  that  they  perhaps 
might  have  proposed  some  temporal  advan- 
tages to  themselves,  but  missed  of  them, 
and  met  with  sufferings  instead  of  them : 
for  if  it  had  been  so,  it  is  more  than  proba- 
ble, that  when  they  saw  their  disappoint- 
ment, they  would  have  discovered  their 
conspiracy ;  es^pecially  when  they  might  hot 
only  have  saved  their  lives,  but  got  gredt 
rewards  for  doing  of  it.  How  improbable, 
then,  is  it,  that  not  one  of  them  should  ever 
have  been  brought  to  do  this  ?f 

But  this  is  not  all.   For  they  tell  us,  that 


•  Acts  iv.  20.  1  John  i.  1. 

f  If  you  believe,  that  the  gospel  is  the  production 
of  human  deceit;  and  yet,  that  in  the  prodigious 
number  of  apostates  once  concerned  in  canying-  on 
the  amazing  villany,  such  as  Judas,  Demas,  Simon 
Magus,  ^llexander  the  coppersmith,  lohn  did  St.  Paul 
much  evil;  &c.  not  one  was  ever  foui  d,  that  would 
prove  the  forgery :  miglit  you  not  as  reasonably  be- 
lieve, that  if  there  v.  ere  two  violent  parties  in  a 
state,  and  that  one  of  them  had  been  guilty  of  some 
egregious  villany,  which  was  known  to  many  of  the 
other  party,  yet  that  none  of  tlie  latter  could  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  disclose  and  prove  it  to  the  world  ? 


46  EASY.  METHOD 

their  Master  bid  them  ex]x;ct  nothing  hut 
sufferings  in  this  world.  This  is  the  tenor 
of  all  that  gospel  which  they  taught:  ah(i 
they  told  the  same  to  all  whom  they  coi^- 
verted.  So  that  here  was  no  disappoint- 
ment. 

For  all  that  were  conycrted  by  them,  were 
converted  upon  the  certain  expectation  of 
sufferings,  and  bidden  prepare  for  it.  Christ 
commanded  his  disciples  to  take  up  their 
cross  daily,  and  follow  him  ;  and  told  them, 
that  in  the  world  they  should  have  tribula- 
tion ;  that  whoever  did  not  forsake  father, 
mother,  wife,  children,  lands,  and  their 
very  lives,  could  not  be  his  disciples  ;  that 
he  who  sought  to  save  his  life  in  this  worlxjij. 
should  lose  it  in  the  next.  r 

Now,  that  this  despised  doctrine  of  the 
cross  should  prevail  so  universally,  against 
the  allurements  of  flesh  and  blood,  and  all 
the  blandishments  of  this  world,  against 
the  rage  and  persecution  of  all  the  kings 
and  powers  of  the  earth,  must  show  its  ori- 
ginal to  be  divine,  and  its  protector  al-  I 
mighty.  What  is  it  else  could  conquer 
without  arms,  persuade  without  rhetoric, 
overcome  enemies,  disarm  tyrants,  and 
subdue  empires,  without  opposition  ?* 

*  The  sacred  pen-men,  the  Prophets  and  Apos- 
tles, were  holv,  excellent  men,  and  would  not ;  art- 


^VITH  THE.  DEISTS.  '     47 

YIII.  We  may  add  to  all  this,  the  testi- 
monies of  the  most  bitter  enemies  and  per- 
secutors  of   Christianit}',   both   Jews   and 

less,  illiterate  men,  and  therefore  cotdd  not,  lay  the 
horrible  scheme  of  dehiding-  mankind.  The  hope 
of  gain  did  not  influence  them,  for  they  were  self- 
denying  men,  that  left  all  to  follow  a  ^Master,  who 
had  not  iv/tere  to  lay  his  head  ;  and  whose  grand  ini- 
tiating" maxim  was.  Except  a  man  forsake  all  that  he 
hath,  he  canvot  be  my  disciple.  They  were  so  disin- 
terested that  they  secured  nothing- on  earth  but  hun- 
ger and  nakedness,  stocks  and  prisons,  racks  and 
tortures ;  which  indeed  was  all  that  they  could,  or 
did  expect,  in  consequence  of  Clirist's  express  de- 
clarations. Neither  was  a  desire  of  honour  the  mo- 
tive of  their  actions  ;  for  ther  Lord  himself  was 
treated  with  the  utmost  contempt,  and  had  more 
than  once  assured  them,  that  they  should  certainly 
share  the  same  fate :  Besides,  they  were  liumble 
men,  not  above  working  as  mechanics  for  a  coarse 
maintenance,  and  so  little  desirous  of  human  regard, 
that  they  exposed  to  the  world  the  metmness  of 
their  brth  and  occupations,  their  great  ignorance 
and  scandalous  falls. 

Add  to  thi|,  that  they  were  so  many,  and  lived  at 
such  distance  of  time  and  place  from  each  other, 
that  had  they  been  impostors,  it  Avould  have  been 
impracticable  for  them  to  contrive  and  carry  on  a 
forgery  without  being  detected.  And  as  they  nei- 
ther vv'ould,  nor  could  deceive  the  world;  so  they 
neither  could  nor  would  be  deceived  themselves  : 
For  they  were  days,  months,  and  years,  eye  and  ear 
witnesses  of  the  things  which  they  relate;  and  when 
they  had  not  the  fullest  evidence  of  important  facts, 
they  insisted  upon  new  proofs,  and  even  upon  sen- 
sible demonstrations  ;  as,  for  instajice,  Thomas,  in 


48  BAS^  MET^HO'p 

Gentiles,  to  the  truth  of  the  matter  of  fact 
of  Christ ;  such  as  Josephus  and  Tacitus ; 
of  which  the   first  flourished  about,  forty 

the  matter  of  om*  Lord's  resurrection,  /oAn  xx.  25. 
And  to  leave  us  no  room  to  question  their  sincerity, 
most  of  them  joyfully  sealed  the  trulh  of  their  doc- 
t^'ines  with  their  own  blood.  Did  so  many  and  such 
marks  of  veracity,  ever  meet  in  any  other  autliors  ? 

But  even  while  they  lived,  they  confirmed  tiieir 
testimony  by  a  variety  of  miracles,  wrought  in  di- 
vers places,  ftnd  for  a  number  of  years ;  sometimes 
befoi-e  thousands  of  their  enemies,  as  the  miracles 
of  Christ  and  his  disciples  ;  sometimes  before  hun- 
dreds of  thousands,  as  those  of  Moses.  These  mira- 
cles were  so  well  known  and  attested,  that  when 
both  Christ  and  Moses  appealed  to  their  authenti- 
citj^,  before  their  bitterest  opposers,  mentioning-  the 
persons  upon  whom,  as  well  as  the  particular  times 
when,  and  the  places  where,  they  had  been  perform- 
ed ;  the  facts  were  never  denied,  but  passed  oveJr 
in  silence,  or  maliciously  attributed  to  the  Prince  of 
the  Devils.  By  such  a  pitifid  slander  as  this,  Por- 
phyry, Hierocles,  Celsus,  and  Julian  the  Apostate, 
those  learned  and  inveterate  enemies  of  Christianity, 
endeavoured  (as  the  Pharisees  had  done  before 
them)  to  sap  the  arguments  founded  upon  the  mira- 
eles  of  Christ  and  his  disciples  So  sure  then  as 
God  would  never  have  displayed  his  arm,  in  the 
most  astonishing  manner,  for  the  support  of  impos- 
ture, the  sacred  pen-men  had  their  commission  from 
the  Almighty,  and  their  writings  arc  his  lively  ora- 
cles. 

To  conclude :  If  the  gospel  (and  consequently  the 
scripture)  is  an  imposture,  you  suppose  tliat  some 
poor  Galilean  fishermen,  only  by  means  of  an  ahsnrd 
fit,  wiiich  they  told  witlwmt  wit,  antl  wrote  without 


AVITH  THE  DEISTS.  49 

years  after  the  death  of  Christ;  and  the 
other  about  seventy  years  after*  So  that 
they  were  capable  of  examining  into  the 
troth,  and  wanted  not  prejudice  and  malice 
suliicient  to  have  inclined  them  to  deny  the 
matter  of  fact  itself  of  Christ.  But  their 
confessing  to  it,  as  likewise  Lucian,  Celsus, 
Porphyry,  and  Julian  the  Apostate,  the 
Mahometans  since,  and  all  other  enemies 
of  Christianity  that  have  arisen  in  the 
world,  is  an  undeniable  attestation  to  the 
tiTith  of  the  matter  of  fact. 

IX.  But  there  is  another  argument  more 
strong  and  convincing  than  even  this  mat- 
ter of  fact ;  more  than  the  certainty  of  what 


elegance,  foiled  the  multitude  of  the  Jewish  and 
Pa^an  priests,  who  had  prejudice,  custom,  posses- 
sion, learning-,  oratory,  wealth,  laws,  governors,  and 
emperors  oh"  their  side ;  yea,  and  truth  also,  upon 
your  principles,  at  least  when  they  decried  tlie  gos- 
pel as  a  cheht.  Would  it  be  more  ridicidous  to  be- 
lieve, that  David  killed  Goliah,  with  a  grain  of  sand, 
and  cut  off  his  head  with  a  spire  of  gi-ass  :  or  that 
our  sailors  sink  men  of  war  with  a  puff  of  breath, 
while  our  soldiers  batter  do^vn  ramparts  \\'itli  snow- 
ball's. •  '  • 

O  ye  sons  of  worldly  wisdom,  drop  your  unjust 
prejudices ;  candidly  Weigh  both  sides  of  the  ques- 
tion, anciyou  avIU  soon  see,  that  in  rejecting  the 
gpgpeLas  an  imposture,  you 'display  Jl  far  greater 
<fl^gTee  of  credulity,  than  we  'do  in  cordially  receiv- 
ino'  it. 


50  EASY  METHODi 

I  see  with  my  eyes ;  and  which  the  apos- 
tle Peter  called  a  more  sure  xvord^  that  is, 
proof,  than  what  he  saw  and  heard  upon 
the  holy  mount,  when  Our  blessed  Saviour 
was  transfigured  before  him  and  two  other 
of  the  apostles ;  for  having  repeated  that 
passage  as  a  proof  of  that  whereof  they 
were  eye-witnesses,  and  heard  the  voice 
from  heaven  giving  attestation  to  our  Lord 
Christ,  2  Pet,  i.  16,  17,  18,  he  says,  v.  19* 
We  have  also  a  more  sure  ivord  of  prophecy  y 
for  th:  proof  of  this  Jesus  being  the  Mes- 
siah ',  that  is,  the  prophecies  which  had 
gone  before  of  him,  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world  ;  and  all  exactly  fulfilled  in  him. 
Men  may  dispute  an  imposition  or  delu- 
sion upon  our  outward  senses ;  but  how 
can  that  be  false  which  has  been  so  long, 
even  from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  and 
so  often,  by  all  the  prophets,  in  several 
ages,  foretold  ?  how  cc^n  this  be  an  imposi- 
t^n,  ©r  a  forgery  r* 

*  Sometimes  the  plainest  prophecies^  the  most 
public  miracles,  and  the  annals  of  kingdoms,  well 
known  when  those  books  were  first  received,  won- 
derfully concur  to  demonstrate  their  authenticity. 
Take  one  instance  out  of  many:  A  prophet  out  of 
Judah,  above  ^00  years  before  the  eventy  thus  fore- 
told the  pollution  of  Jeroboam's  altar  at  Bethel,  be- 
fore Jexoboani  himself,  who  was  attended  by  his 
J>ri*it«,  his  coartrers,  and  no  doubt  a  vast  number  of 


WITH  THE  BEISTS.  5.I 

This  is  particularly  insisted  on,  in  the 
Method  tvith  the  Jexvs.  And  even  the  De- 
ists must  confess,  that  that  book  we  call  the 
Old  Testament^  was  in  being,  in  tTie  hands 
of  the  JeAvs,  long  before  our  Saviour  came 
into  the  world.*  And  if  they  will  be  at 
th(2  pains  to  compare  the  prophecies  that 
are  there  of  the  Messiah,  with  the  fulfilling 
of  them,  as  to  time,  place,  and  all  other 
circumstances,  in  the  person,  birth,  life, 
death,  resurrection,  and  ascension  of  our 

idolatrous  worshippers  :  O  altavy  altar ^  thus  sa^8  the 
JLn  rd,  behold,  a  child  sJuiR  be  born  tinto  the  house  rtj 
Dnvidy  Josiah  by  name,  -aho  shall  bum  men*s  bonei 
i/pon  thee:  and  this  is  the  sig'n  :  Behold,  this  very 
da  y,  the  attar  shall  be  rent,  mid  tlie  ashes  that  are  upon 
it  scattered.  King  Jeroboam  inflamed  \vith  ang'er, 
stretched  forth  his  hand  against  the  man  of  Godj  say- 
in^-^  to  his  guards,  Lay  Iwld  on  him  :  But  his  extend^ 
ed  hand  -was  dned  up  so  that  Jte  coiddnot  pull  it  in  ag^ain 
to  Mm :  the  rending  of  the  altar,  and  the  scatter- 
ing- of  the  iire,  instantly  took  place  ;  and  the  capital 
pro  phecy  ^as  exactly  fulfilled  by  pious  king  Josiah, 
as  Tou  may  see  by  comparing  1  Kings  xiii.  1,  with 
2  kings  xxiii.  15.  Can  we  rciv^^onably  suppose,  that 
books,  containing  accounts  of  inch  public  events, 
would  have  been  received  as  divine  by  a  divided  peo- 
ple^ if  tlieir  authenticity  had  not  been  coniii*med.  by 
tndnbitable  matter  of  fact  ? 

*  Their  wonderful  preservation  of  that  book,  and 
consequently  the  prophetic  histoiy  of  Christ,  whom 
Ihey  reject,  is  itself  a  proof,  that  infinite  wisdom 
even  overrules  enemies  toJ^bear  reluctant  testimony 
to  the  truth. 


52  EASY  METHOD 

blessed  Saviour,  they  will  find  this  prove 
what  our  apostle  here  calls  it,  a  light  l;hm' 
ing  in  a  dark  place^  until  the  daij  dawn^  and 
the  daij-€tar  arise  in  your  hearts,  W  hich 
God  grant.  Here  is  no  possibility  of  cje,-, 
ceit  or  imposture.  '  ;*      j 

Old  prophecies,  and  all  so  agreeing,  coilld 
not  ha\'e  been  contriyecj  to  countenance;  a 
new^chtat ;  and  nothing  could  be  a  che|vt> 
that  could  fulfil  all  these.  j ;  , 

For  this  therefore,  1  refer  the  Deists  jto 
the  Method  xvith  the  Jezvs.  \ 

•  J  desire  them  likewise  to  look  there, \9e<^^, 
11, and  consider  the  prophecies  given  iiO 
long,  a^'o,  of  which  they  see  the  fulfilling  it 
this  day,  with  their  own  eyes,  of  •the  state 
of  the  Jews,  for  nvany  ages  past,  and  at 
present ;  without  a  king,  or  priest,  or  terii.f 
pie,  or  sacrifice,  scattered  to  the  four  winds, 
fyifted.as  with  a  sieve,  among  all  nations  ; 
yet  preserved,  and  ahvays  so  to  be,  a  dis- 
tinct'people  from\  ail;  others  of  the  whole 
cjar-th.  "^t'hereas  those  jnighty  monarcl]ies 
.which  oppressed  the  Jews,  and  which  c<;m- 
manded  the  world,, in  their  turns,  and  hii.d 
the  greatest  humah  prospect  of  perpetuity^ 
v/ere  to  be  extinguished,  as  they  have  been, 
even  that  their  na^mes  should  be  blotted  out 
fj-pm  under  Heaven, 

As  likewise,  that  as  reniarkabie,.j9Lpm 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  5:; 

blessed  Saviour,  concerning  the  pres^erva- 
tion  and  progress  of  the  Christian  Churchy 
when  in  her  swaddling-clothes,  consisting 
only  of  a  few  poor  fishermen ;  not  by  the 
sword,  as  that  of  Mahomet,  but  under  all 
the  persecution  of  men  and  hell;  which 
yet  should  not  prevail  against  her. 

But  though  I  offer  these,  as  not  to  be 
slighted  by  the  Deists,  to  which  they  can 
show  nothing  equal  in  all  profane  history, 
and  in  which  it  is  impossible  any  cheat  can 
lie  ;  yet  I  put  them  not  upon  the  same  foot 
as  the  prophecies  before-mentioned  of  the 
marks  and  coming  of  the  Messiah,  which- 
have  been  since  the  world  began.  (" 

And  that  general  expectation  of  the  whole 
earth  at  the  time  of  his  coming,  insisted 
upon  in  the  Method  xvitli  the  JezvSy  sect,  5. 
is  greatly  to  be  noticed. 

But,  I  say,  the  foregoing  prophecies  of 
our  Saviour,  are  so  strong  a  proof,  as  even 
miracles'  would  not  be  sufficient  to  break 
their  authority. 

I  mean,  if  it  were  possible  that  a  true 
miracle  could  be  v*rought  in  contradiction 
to  them  :  for  that  would  be  for  God  to  con- 
tradict himself. 

But  no  sign,  or  wonder,  that  could  if^' 
sibly  be  solved,  should  shake  this  evidence. 

It  is  this  that  keeps  the  Jews  in  their  ob- 

E    2 


54  EASY  METHOD 

stinacy./  Thobgh  they  caimot  deny  the  mat-  i 
ters  ol'ifact  done  by  our  blessed  Saviour  to  I 
be  truly  miracles,  if  so  done  as  said  ;  nor  i 
can  they  deny  that  they  were'  so  done,  be-^ 
cause  they  have  all  the  four  marks  before-/ 
mentix^ned  :   yet  they  cannot  yield!  Why  ? 
Because  they  think  that  the  gospel  is  in_ 
contradiction  to  the  law.  Which  if  it  were, 
the  cousbquence  would  be  unavoidable,  that 
both  could  not  be  true.     To  solve  this,  is 
the  business  of  the  Method  with  the  Jews* 
But  the  contradiction  Mhich  they  suppose, 
is  in  their  comments  that  they  put  upon  the, 
law  ;   especially  they  expect  a  literal  fulfil- 
ing  of  those  promises  of  the  restoration  of 
Jerusalem,    and    outward    glories    of    the 
church  ;  of  v/hich  there  is  such  frequent 
mention  in  the  books  of  Moses,  the  Psalms^ 
and  ail  the  prophets.     And  many  Christi- 
ans  do   expect  the  same,  and  take  those 
texts  as  literally  as  the  Jews  do.     We  do 
believe,  and  pray  for  the  conversion  of  the 
Jews.     For  this  end   they  have  been  so 
miraculously  preserved,  according  to  the 
prophecies  so  long  before  of  it.   And  when, 
that  time  shall  come,  as  they  are  the  most 
honourable  and  ancient  of  all  the  nations  on 
the.jearth  ;  so  will  their  church  return  to  Ipe 
the  mother  christian  church  as  she  was  at 
first ;  and  Home  must  surrender  to  Jeruaa- 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  5S 

lem.  Then  all  nations  will  flow  thither ;  and 
even  Kzekiel's  temple  may  be  literaily  built 
there,  in  the  metropolis  of  the  whole  earth  ; 
v/hich  Jerusalem  m.ust  be,  when  the  fulness 
of  the  Gentiles  shall  meet  with  the  conver- 
sion of  the  Jews  :  for  no  nation  will  then 
contend  -with  the  Jews,  nor  church  with 
Jerusalem  far  supremucv.  All  nations  will 
be  ambitious  to  draw  their  original  from  the 
Jews,-  whose  are  the  fathers,  and  from 
ithom,  as  concerning  the  flesh,  Christ  camev 
'  Then  will  be  fulfilled  that  outward  gran- 
deur and  restoration  of  the  Jews,  and  of 
Jerusalem^  which  they  expect,  pursuant  to 
the  prophecies. 

They  pretend  not  that  this  is  limited  to 
any  particular  time  of  the  reign  of  the  Mes- 
siah. They  are  sure  it  will  not  be  at  the 
beginning ;  for  they  expect  to  go  through 
great  conflicts  and  trials  with  their  Mes- 
siah, (as  the  Christian  Church  has  done,) 
before  his  final  conquest,  and  that  they  come 
to  reign  v/ith  him.  So  that  this  is  no  ob- 
struction to  their  embracing  of  Christianity. 
They  see  the  same  things  fulfilled  in  us, 
which  they  expect  themselves  ;  and  we  ex- 
pect the  same  things  they  do. 

I  tell  tins  to  the  Deists,  lest  they  may 
think  that  the  Jews  have  some  stronger 
arguments- than  they  know  of;  that  they  ^ 


^6  EASY  METHOD 

are  not  persuaded  by  the  miracles  of  oiir 
blessed  Saviour,  and  by  the  fulfilling  of  all 
the  prophc'cies  in  him,  that  were  made  con- 
cerninq;  the  Messiah. 

As  1  said  before,  I  would  not  plead  even 
miracles  against  these. 

And  if  this  is  suliicient  to  persuade  a 
Jew,  it  is  much  more  so  to  a  Deist,  who 
labours  not  under  these  objections. 

Besides,  I  would  not  seem  to  clash  with 
that  (in  a  sound  sense)  reasonable  caution, 
used  by  Christian  writers,  not  to  put  the 
issue  of  the  truth  wholly  upon  miracles^ 
without  this  addition,  when  not  done  in 
contradiction  to  the  revelations  already 
given  in  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

And  they  do  it  upon  this  consideration^ 
That  though  it  is  impossible  to  suppose, 
that  God  would  work  a  real  miracle,  in 
contradiction  to  what  he  has  already  re- 
v^ealed  ;  yet  men  may  be  imposed  upon  by 
false  and  seeming  miracles,  and  pretended 
revelations,  (as  there  are  many  examples, 
especially  in  the  church  of  Rome,)  and  so 
may  be  shaken  in  the  faith,  if  they  keep 
BOt  to  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  their  rule. 

We  are  told,  2  Thess,  ii.  9.  of  hhn  whose 
coming'  is  after  the  ivorking  of  Satan.,  with 
ail  poiver,  and  signs.,  and  lying  wonders  ; 
and  Rev,  xiii.  14.  xvi.  14«  and  xix.  20»  of 


Wmr  THE  DEISTS.  5t 

the  devil  and  false  prophets  working  mira- 
cles. But  the  word  in  nil  these  places  is 
only  Semeia^  signs^  that  is  as  it  is  rendered; 
Matth,  XXV.  24  j  which,  though  sometimes 
it  may  be  used  to  signify  real  miracles  ; 
ye^'niot  always,  not  in  these  places :  for 
though  every  miracle  be  a  sign,  and  a  won- 
der ;  yet  every  sign,  or  wonder,  is  not  a 
miracle. 

X.  Here  it  may  be  proper  to  consider  a 
common  topic  of  the  Deists,  who,  when 
they  are  not  able  to  stand  out  against  the 
evidence  of  fact,  that  such  and  such  mira- 
cles have  been  done,  then  turn  about,  and 
deny  such  things  to  be  miracles,  at  least 
that  we  can  never  be  sure  whether  any 
wonderful  thing  that  is  shown  to  us,  be  a 
true  or  a  false  miracle. 

And  the  great  argument  they  go  upon, 
is  this,  That  a  miracle  being  that  which 
exceeds  the  power  of  nature,  we  cannot 
know  what  exceeds  it,  unless  we  know  the 
utmost  extent  of  the  power  of  nature  ;  and 
no  man  pretends  to  know  that :  therefore 
that  no  man  can  certainly,  know  whether 
any  event  be  miraculous;  and,  consequent- 
ly, he  may  be  cheated  in  his  judgment  be- 
twixt true  and  false  miracles. 

To  v/hich  I  answer.  That  men  may  be 
so  cheated  ;  and  there  are  many  examples 
of  it. 


58  EASY  METHOD 

But  that  though  Ave  may  not  always  know 
when  we  are  cbc^ated  ;  yet  wc  can  certainly 
tell,  in  many  cases,  when  we  are  not  cheat- 
ed. 

For  though  we  do  not  know  the  utmost 
extent  of  the  power  of  nature,  perhaps  in 
any  one  thing  ;  yet  it  does  not  follow,  that 
we  know  not  the  nature  of  any  thing,  in 
some  measure ;  and  that  certainly  too.  F'or 
example  :  though  I  do  not  know  the  utmost 
extent  of  the  power  of  fire  ;  yet  I  certainly 
know,  that  ic  is  the  nature  of  fire  to  burn ; 
and  that  when  proper  fuel  is  administered 
to  it,  jt  is  contrary  to  the  nature  of  fire  not- 
to  consume  it.  Therefore  if  I  see  three 
men  taken  off  the  street,  in  their  common 
wearing  apparel,  and,  without  any  prepara-* 
lion,  cast  into  the  midst  of  a  burning  fiery 
furnace  ;  and  that  the  flame  was  so  fierce, 
that  it  burnt  up  those  men  that  threw  them 
m  ;  and  yet  that  those  who  were  thrown  in 
should  walk  up  and  doNvn  in  the  bottom  of 
the  furnace,  and  I  should  see  a  fourth  per- 
son with  them,  of  glorious  appearance,  like 
the  Son  of  God ;  and  that  these  men  should 
come  up  again  out  of  the  furnace,  without 
any  harm,  or  so  much  as  the  smell  of  6re 
upon  themselves,  or  their  cloaths  :  I  could 
not  be  deceived,  in  thinking  there  v/as  a 
stop  put  to  the  nature  of  fire  as  to  these 


^ATTH  THE  DEISTS.  59 

raen ;  and  that  it  had  its  effect  upon  the 
men  whom  it  burned,  at  the  same  time. 

Aeraixi,  though  i  cannot  tell  how  won- 
derful and  sudden  an  increase  of  corn  might 
be  produced  by  the  concurrence  of  many' 
causes  ;  as  a  warm  chmate,  the  fertihty  of 
the  soil,  &c.  yet  this  I  can  certainly  know, 
that  there  is  not  that  natural  force  in  the 
breath  of  two  or  three  words  spok  n,  to 
multiply  one  small  loaf  of  bread,  so  fast,  in 
the  breaking  of  it,  as  truly  and  really,  not 
only  in  appearance  and  show  to  the  eye,  but 
to  fill  the  bellies  of  several  thousand  hun- 
gry persons  ;  and  that  the  fragments  should 
be  much  mpre  than  the  bread  was  at  lirst. 

So  neither  in  a  word  spoken,  to  raise  the 
dead,  cure  diseases,  &c. 

Therefore,  though  we  know  not  the  ut- 
most extent  of  the  power  of  nature  ;  yet 
we  can  certainly  know  what  is  contrary  to 
the  nature  of  several  such  things  as  we  do 
know. 

And  therefore,  though  we  may  be  cheat- 
ed and  imposed  upon  in  many  seeming  mi- 
racles and  wonders ;  yet  there  are  some 
things  wherein  we  may  be  certain. 

But  further,  the  Deists  acknowledge  a 
God  of  an  almighty  power,  who  made  all 
things. 

Yet  they  wpuld  put  it  out  of  his  power. 


60  EASY  METHOD 

to  make  any  revelation  of  his  will  to  man- 
kind. For  if  we  cannot  be  certain  of  anjr 
miracle,  how  should  we  know  when  God 
sent  any  thing  extraordinary  to  us  ? 

Nay,  how  should  we  know  the  ordinary 
power  of  nature,  if  we  knew  not  what  ex- 
ceeded it  ?  If  we  knew  not  what  is  natural, 
how, do  we  know  there  is  such  a  thiiig  as 
nature  t  tiiat  ail  is  not  supernatural,  all  mi- 
racles, and  so  disputable,  till  we  come  to 
downright  scepticism,  and  doubt  the  cer- 
tainty of  our  outvv'ard  senses,  whether  we 
see,  hear,  or  feel,  or  all  be  not  a  miraculous 
illusion? 

Which  because  I  know  the^  Deists  are 
not  inclined  to  do,  therefore  I  will  return  to 
pursue  my  argument  upon  the  conviction. 
of  our  outward  senses ;  desiring  only  this, 
that  they  would  allow  the  senses  of  other 
men  to  be  as  certain  as  their  own.  Which 
they  cannot  refuse,  since  without  this  they 
can  have  no  certiiinty  of  their  own. 
-  Xi.  Therefore,  from  what  has  been  said, 
the  cause  is  summed  up  shortly  in  this  : 
That  though  we  cannot  see  what  was  done 
before  our  time ;  yet,  by  the  marks  which 
I  have  laid  down  concerning  the  certainty 
of  matters  of  fact  done  before  our  time,  we 
may  be  as  much  ass'ured  of  the  truth  of 
them,  as  if  we  saw  them  with  our  eyes ;  be- 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  61 

cause  whatever  matter  of  fact  has  all  the 
four  marks  before-mentioned,  could  never 
have  been  invented,  and  received,  but  upon 
the  conviction  of  the  outward  senses  of  all 
those  vv^ho  did  receive  it,  as  before  is  de- 
monstrated. And  therefore,  this  topic, 
which  I  have  chosen,  does  stand  upon  the 
conviction  even  of  mens  outward  senses. 
And  since  you  have  confined  me  to  one 
topic,  I  have  not  insisted  upon  the  other, 
which  I  have  only  named. 

XII.  And  now  it  lies  upon  the  Deists,  if 
they  would  appear  as  men  of  reason,  to 
show  some  matter  of  fact  of  former  ages, 
which  they  allow  to  be  true,  that  has  greater 
evidence  of  its  truth,  than  the  matters  of 
fact  of  Moses  and  of  Christ,  as  no  other 
matters  of  fact  of  those  times,  however 
true,  have,  but  these  only :  and  I  put  it 
upon  them  to  show  any  forgery  that  has  all 
these  marks. 

This  is  a  short  issue.  Keep  them  close 
to  this.  This  determines  the  cause  all  at 
once. 

Let  them  produce  their  Apollonius  Tya- 
nseus,  whose  life  was  put  into  English  by 
the  execrable  Charles  Blount  ;'^  and  com- 
pared, with  all  the  wit  and  malice  he  was 

*  Who  became  his  ovn  exeeutioner. 


62  EASY  METHOD 

master  of,  to  the  life  and  miracles  of  our 
blessed  Saviour. 

Let  them  take  aid  from  all  the  legends 
in  the  church  of  Rome,  those  pious  cheats, 
the  sorest  disgraces  of  Christianity;  aiid 
which  have  bid  the  fairest,  of  any  one  con- 
trivance, to  overturn  the  certainty  of  the 
Iniracles  of  Christ,  and  his  apostles,  and  the 
whole  truth  of  the  gospel,  by  putting  tiieni 
all  upon  the  same  footing ;  at  least,  they  are 
so  understood  by  the  generality  of  their 
devotees,  though  disowned  and  laughed  at 
by  the  learned,  and  men  of  sense,  among 
them. 

Let  them  pick  and  choose  the  most  pro- 
bable of  all  the  fables  of  the  Heathen  dei- 
ties ;  and  see  if  they  can  find,  in  any  of 
these,  the  four  marks  before-mentioned. 

Otherwise  let  them  submit  to  the  irrifra- 
gable  certainty  of  the  Christian  Religion. 

XIII.  But  if,  notwithstanding  of  all  that 
is  said,  the  Deists  will  still  contend.  That 
all  this  is  but  priestcraft,  the  invention  of 
priests,  for  their  own  profit,  &c  ,*  then  they 
will  give  us  an  idea  of  priests  far  different 
from  what  they  intend :  for  then  we  must 
look  upon  these  priests,  not  only  as  the 
cunningest  and  wisest  of  mankind,  but  we 
shall  be  tempted  to  adore  them  as  deities, 
who  have  such  power  as  to  impose  at  their 


WITH  THE  DfelStS.  65 

pleasure,  upon  the  senses  of  manic  irid,  to 
make  them  believe,  that  they  had  practised 
such  public  institutions,  enacted  them  b}^ 
laws,  taught  them  to  their  children,  &c. 
ivhen  they  had  never  done  an\'  of  these 
things,  or  ever  so  much  as  heard  of  them 
before :  and  then,  upon  the  credit  of  their 
believing  that  they  had  done  such  thin<rs  as 
they  never  did,  to  make  them  further  be- 
lieve, upon  the  same  foundation,  whatever 
tJiey  pleased  to  impose  upon  them,  as  to 
former  ages :  I  say,  such  a  power  as  this 
must  exceed  all  that  is  human  ;  and,  conse- 
quently, make  us  rank  these  priests  far 
above  the  condition  of  mortals. 

2.  Kay,  this  %vere  to  make  them  outdo 
all  that  has  ever  been  related  of  the  infernal 
powers  :  for  though  their  legerdemain  has 
extended  to  deceive  some  unwary  behold- 
ers ;  and  their  power  of  working  some  seem- 
ing miracles  has  been  great;  yet  it  never 
r'eached,  nor  ever  was  supposed  to  reach  so 
far,  as  to  deceive  the  senses  of  all  mankind, 
in  matters  of  such  public  and  notorious  na- 
tdre  as  those  of  which  we  now  speak  ;  to 
iiiake  them  believe,  that  they  had  enacted 
laws  for  such  public  observances,  ccrtinu- 
ally  practised  them,  taught  ihem  to  their 
children,  and  had  been  instructed  in  them 
themselves   from  their  childhood,  if  they 


64  EA9V  METHOD 

had  never   enacted,  practised,  taught,  or 
been  taught  such  things. 

3.  And  as  this  exceeds  all  the  power  of 
hell  and  devils,  so  is  it  more  than  ever  God 
almighty  has  done  since  the  foundation  of 
the  world.  None  of  the  miracles  that  he 
has  shown,  or  belief  which  he  has  required 
to  any  thing  that  he  has  revealed,  has  ever 
contradicted  the  outward  senses  of  any  one 
man  in  the  world,  much  less  of  all  mankind 
together  :  for  miracles  being  appeals  to  our 
outw^ard  senses,  if  they  should  overthrow 
the  certainty  of  our  outward  senses  must 
destroy,  with  it,  all  their  own  certainty,  as 
to  us;  since  we  have  no  other  way  to  judge 
of  a  miracle  exhibited  to  our  senses,  than 
upon  the  supposition  of  the  certainty  of  our 
senses,  upon  which  we  give  credit  to  a  mir- 
acle that  is  shown  to  our  senses. 

4.  This,  by  the  way,  is  a  yet  unanswered 
argument  against  the  miracle  of  transub- 
stantiation,  and  shows  the  weakness  of  the 
defence  which  the  church  of  Rome  offers 
for  it,  (from  whom  the  Socinians  h:ive  lick- 
ed it  up,  and,  of  late,  have  gloried  much  in 
it  amongst  us)  That  the  doctrines  of  the 
Trinity,  or  incarnation,  contain  as  great 
seeming  absurdities  as  that  of  transubstan- 
tiation:  for  1  would  ask,  Which  of  our  sen- 
ses is  it  which  the  doctrines  of  the  Trinitv, 


'NVITH  TftE  DEISTS.  QS 

or  carnation,  do  contradict?  Is  it  our  see- 
ing, hearing,  feeling,  taste,  or  smell  ? 
Whereas  transubstantiation  does  contradict 
all  of  these.  Therefore  the  comparison  is 
exceedingly  short,  and  out  of  purpose. 
But  to  return. 

-  If  the  Christian  religion  be  a  cheat,  and 
nothing  else  but  the  invention  of  priests, 
and  carried  on  by  their  craft,  it  makes  their 
power  and  wisdom  greater  than  that  of 
men,  angels,  or  devils  ;  and  more  than  God 
hiniself  ever  yet  showed  or  expressed,  to 
deceive  and  impose  upon  the  senses  of  man- 
kind, in  such  public  and  notorious  mat- 
ters of  fact.* 

*  Reason  itself  dictates,  that  nothing  but  tlie 
plainest  ifiatter  of  fad  could  induce  so  many  thou- 
sands of  prejudiced  and  persecuting-  Jews,  to  em- 
brace the  humbling,  self-denying  doctrines  of  the 
cross,  which  they  so  much  despised  and  abhorred. 
Nothing  but  ihe  clearest  evidence,  arising  from  un- 
doubted truth,  could  make  multitudes  of  lawless, 
luxurious  heathens  receive,  follow,  and  trar.smit  to 
posterity  the  doctrines  and  \vritings  of  the  Apos- 
tles ;  especially  at  a  time  when  the  vanity  of  their 
pretensions  to  miracles,  and  the  gift  of  tongues, 
could  be  so  easily  discovered,  had  they  been  impos- 
tors— at  a  time  when  the  profession  of  Christianity 
exposed  persons  of  all  ranks  to  the  greatest  con- 
tempt, and  most  imminent  danger.  In  this  respect, 
the  case  of  the  primitive  Christians  widely  differed 
from  that  of  Mahomet's  followers ;  for  those,  wjio 
adhpyed  to  the  warlike,  violent  impostor,  saved  their 
I  2 


66  EASY  METHOD 

XIV.  And  this  miracle,  which  the  Deists 
must  run  into  to  avoid  those  recorded  of 
Moses  .ind  Christ,  is  much  greater,  and 
more  astonishing,  than  all  the  scriptures  tell 
of  them. 

So  that  these  men,  who  laugh  at  all  mir- 
acles, are  now  obliged  to  account  for  the 
greatest  of  all  :..,.how  the  senses  of  mankind 
could  be  imposed  upon  in  such  public  mat- 
ters of  fact. 

And  how  then  can  they  make  the  priests 
the  most  contemptible  of  all  mankind,  since 

lives  and  properties,  or  attained  to  honour^  by  their 
new,  easy,  and  fleshpleasing'  religion:  But  those, 
who  devoted  themselves  to  the  meek,  self-denying-, 
crucified  Jesus,  were  frequently  spoiled  of  their 
goods,  and  cruelly  put  to  death ;  or  if  they  escaped 
with  their  lives,  were  looked  upon  as  the  very  dregs 
of  mankind. 

Add  to  this;  that  some  of  the  most  profound  parts 
of  the  scriptures,  were  addressed  to  the  inhabitants 
of  polite  Greece,  and  triumphant  Rome,  among 
whom  philosophy  and  literature,  with  the  fine  arts 
and  sciences,  were  in  the  highest  perfection;  and 
who,  consequently,  wei*e  less  liable  to  be  the  dupes 
of  forgery  and  imposture.  On  the  contrary,  gross 
ignorance  overspread  those  countries,  where  Ma- 
homet first  broached  his  absurd  opinions,  and  pro- 
pag-ated  them  with  the  sword :  A  sure  sign  this,  that 
the  sacred  writers  did  not,  like  that  impostor,  avail 
themselves  of  the  ignorance,  weakness,  and  help- 
lessness of  dieir  followers,  to  impose  falsehood  upon 
them. 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  67 

they  make  them  the  sole  authors  of  this  the 
greatest  of  miracles  ? 

XV.  And  since  the  Deists  (these  men  of 
sense  and  reason)  have  so  vile  and  mean  an 
idea  of  the  priests  of  all  religions,  why  do 
they  not  recover  the  world  out  of  the  pos- 
session and  government  of  such  blockheads  ? 
why  do  they  suffer  kings  and'  states  to  be 
led  by  them ;  to  establish  their  deceits  by 
laws,  and  inflict  penalties  upon  the  opposers 
of  them  ?  Let  the  Deists  try  their  hands  ; 
they  have  been  trying,  and  are  now  busy 
about  it.  And  free  liberty  they  have.  Yet 
have  they  not  prevailed,  nor  ever  yet  did 
prevail  in  any  civilized  or  generous  nation. 
And  though  they  have  made  some  inroads 
among  the  Hottentots,  and  some  other  the 
most  brutal  part  of  mankind  ;  yet  are  they 
still  exploded  ;  and  priests  have,  and  do 
prevail  against  them,  among  not  only  the 
greatest,  but  best  part  of  the  w^orld,  and  the 
most  glorious  for  arts,  learning,  and  war. 

XYI.  Por  as  the  devil  does  ape  God,  in 
his  institutions  of  religion,  his  feasts,  sacri- 
fices, &c.  so  likewise  in  his  priests;  with- 
out whom,  no  religion,  whether  true  or  false, 
can  stand.  False  religion  is  but  a  corruption 
of  the  true.  The  true  was  before  it,  though 
it  be  followed  close  upon  the  heels. 

The  revelation  made  to  Moses  is  elder 


68  EASY  METIKia> 

than  any  historj^  extant  in  the  Heathen 
world.  The  Heathens,  in  imitation  of  him, 
pretended,  likewise,  to  their  revelations. 
But  I  have  given  those  marks  which  distin- 
guish them  from  the  true.  None  of  them 
have  those  four  marks  before  mentioned. 

Now,  the  Deists  think  all  revelations  to 
be  equally  pretended,  and  a  cheat ;  and  the 
priests  of  all  religions  to  be  the  same  con- 
trivers and  jugglers  :  and  therefore  they 
proclaim  war  equally  against  all,  and  are 
equally  engaged  to  bear  the  briint  of  all. 

And  if  the  contest  be  only  betwixt  the 
Deists  and  the  priests,  which  of  them  are 
the  men  of  the  greatest  parts  and  sense,  let 
the  effects  determine  it:  and  let  the  Deists 
yield  the  victory  to  their  conquerors,  who^ 
by  their  own  confession,  carry  all  the  world 
before  them. 

XYII.  If  the  Deists  say,  That  this  is 
because  all  the  world  are  blockheads,  as 
well  as  those  priests  who  govern  them ;  that 
all  are  blockheads,  except  the  Deists,  who 
vote  themselves  only  to  be  men  of  sense ; 
this  (besides  the  modesty  of  it)  will  spoil 
their  great  and  beloved  topic,  in  behalf  of 
what  they  call  natural  religion,  against  the 
revealed,  viz.  appealing  to  the  common  rea- 
son of  mankind.  This  they  set  up  against 
revelation :  think  this  to  be  sufficient  for  all 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  69 

the  uses  of  men,  here  or  hereafter,  (if  there 
be  any  after  state)  and  therefore  that  there 
is  no  use  of  revelation.  This  common  rea- 
son they  advance  as  infallible,  at  least  as 
the  surest  guide;  yet  now  cry  out  upon 
it  when  it  turns  against  them.  V/hen  this 
common  reason  runs  after  revelation,  as  it 
always  has  done,  then  common  reason  is  a 
beast;  and  we  must  look  for  reason,  not 
from  the  common  sentiments  of  mankind, 
but  only  among  the  beaux,  the  Deists.* 
XYIII.  Therefore  if  the  Deists  would 


*  J\''ot  many  J^i'oble,  not  many  Wise  are  called,  says 
the  Apostle;  nevertheless  some  of  both,  even  at  the 
rise  of  Christianity,  openly  stood  up  for  its  truth. 
Among  the  noble  we  find  Joseph,  a  member  of  the 
great  Jewish  council,  Dionysius,  one  of  the  Judges 
at  Athens,  and  Flavius  Clemens,  a  Roman  Senator; 
and  among  the  -adse,  Quadratus,  Avis c  ides,  and 
Athenagoras,  Athenian  Philosophers;  CiemenSj  Ar- 
nobius,  Ammonius,  Annatolius,  &c,  men  of  great 
learning  at  Alexandria;  and  at  Rome,  Jostin  martyr 
and  TertuUian,  both  famous  apologists  for  the  reli- 
gion of  Jesus,  the  latter  of  whom  in  the  second  cen- 
tury told  the  Roman  governors,  that  their  corpoi-a- 
tions,  councils,  and  armies,  and  the  emperor's  palace, 
were  full  of  Christians  :  nor  is  this  im.probable  ;  since 
so  early  as  St.  Paul's  days  tJie  saints  of  desar's  house- 
hold saluted  those  of  the  Roman  provinces.  PMl.  iv. 
22.  How  credulous  are  they  who  can  beLeve  that 
persf.ns  of  such  rank  and  learning,  could  be  deliided 
by  Jewish  fishermen,  into  the  worship  of  a  crucified 
impostor  I 


70  BASY  METl^D 

avoid  the  mortification,  (which  >vill  be 
very  uneasy  to  them)  to  yield,  and  sul>mit 
to  be  subdued  and  hewed  down  before  the 
priests,  whom  of  all  mankind  they  hate 
and  despise ;  if  they  would  avoid  this,  let 
them  confess,  as  the  truth  is,  That  religion 
is  no  invention  of  priests,  but  of  divine 
original:  That  priests  were  instituted  by 
the  same  author  of  religion ;  and  that  their 
order  is  a  perpetual  and  living  monument 
of  the  matters  of  fact  of  their  religion,  in- 
stituted from  the  time  that  such  matters  of 
fact  were  said  to  be  done ;  as  the  Levites 
from  Moses;  the  apostles  and  succeeding 
fclergy  from  Christ  to  this  day:  That  no 
Heathen  priest  can  say  the  same  :  they 
were  not  appointed  by  the  gods  whom  they 
served,  but  by  others  m  after  ages :  they 
cannot  stand  the  test  ol  the  four  rules  be- 
Fore  mentioned;  which  the  Christian  priests 
can  do,  and  they  only.  Now,  the  Christiani 
priesthood,  as  instituted  by  Christ  himself^ 
and  continued  by  succession  to  this  dhy^ 
being  as  impregnable  and  flagrant  a  testi- 
mony to  the  truth  of  the  matters  of  fact  of 
Christ,  as  the  sacraments,  or  any  other 
public  institutions ;  besides  that,  if  the 
priesthood  were  taken  away,  the  sacra- 
hients,  and  other  public  institutions,  which 
are  administered  by  their  hands,  must  fall 


WITH  THE  DEISTS.  71 

with  them  :  ihereiore  the  devil  has  been 
most  busy,  and  bent  his  greatest  force,  in 
all  i'-j^cs,  against  the  priesthood;  knowing, 
that  if  that  goes  down,  all  goes  with  it. 

X'X.  And  now,  last  of  all,  if  one  word 
of  advice  vvoald  not  be  lost  upon  men  \\  ho 
think  so  unme^surably  of  themselves  as  the 
Deists,  you  may  represent  to  them,  what  a 
condition  they  are  in,  who  spend  that  life 
and  sense  which  God  has  given  them,  in 
ridiculing  the  greatest  of  his  blessings,  his 
revela.tiono  of  Christ,  and  by  Christ,  to  re- 
deem those  from  eternal  misery  who  shall 
beli&ve  in  him  and  obey  his  laws :  and  that 
God,  in  his  vvonderful  mercy  and  v/isdom, 
has  so  guarded  his  revelations,  as  that  it  is 
past  the  power  of  men  or  devils  to  counter- 
feit: and  that  there  is  no  denying  of  them, 
unless  we  will  be  so  absurd  as  to  deny,  not 
only  the  reason,  but  the  certainty  of  the 
outward  senses,  not  only  of  one,  or  two,  or 
three,  !)ut  of  mankind  in  general :  That  this 
case  is  so  veiy  plain,  that  nothing  but  want 
of  thought  can  hinder  any  to  discover  it : 
That  they  must  yield  it  to  be  so  plain,  un- 
less they  can  show  some  forgery  which  has 
all  the  four  marks  before  set  down.  But  if 
they  cannot  do  this,  they  must  quit  their 
cause,  and  yield  a  happy  victory  oyer 
themselves ;  or  else  sit  dovvn  undqr  all  tnat 


^2  EA-SY  METHOD 

ignominy,  vAth  which  they  have  loaded  the 
priests,  of  being,  not  only  the  most  perni- 
cious, but  ^what  will  gall  them  more)  the 
most  inconsiderate,  and  inconsiderable  of 
mankind. 

Therefore  let  them  not  think  it  an  un- 
dervaluing of  their  worthiness,  that  their 
whole  cause  is  comprised  within  so  narrow 
a  compass,  and  no  more  time  bestowed 
upon  it  than  it  is  worth. 

But  let  them  rather  reflect,  how  far  they 
have  been  all  this  time  from  Christianity, 
whose  rudiments  they  are  yet  to  learn  ;  how 
far  from  the  way  of  salvation  ;  how  far  the 
race  of  their  lives  is  run,  before  they  have 
set  one  step  in  the  road  to  heaven;  and 
therefore  how  much  diligence  they  ought 
to  use,  to  redeem  all  that  time  they  have 
lost,  lest  they  lose  themselves  for  ever:  and 
be  convinced,  by  a  dreadful  experience, 
when  it  is  too  late,  that  the  gosy^el  is  a 
truth,  and  of  the  last  consequence.^^ 

*  It  is  exceedingly  remarkable,  that  the  more 
humble  and  holy  people  ai-e,  the  more  they  read, 
admire,  and  value  the  scriptures;  and  on  ^he  con- 
trajy,  the  more  self-conceived,  worldly-minded,  and 
wicked,  the  more  they  neg-lcct,  despise,  and  asperse 
them. 

As  for  the  objections  which  are  raised  ag-ainst 
their  persplcui'y  and  consistency,  those  who  are 
both  pious  and  learned,  know,  .hut  chey  are  »-eneral- 
ly  founded  on  prepossession,  and  the  want  of  undet- 


WITH  THE  DEIS.T3.  73 

;....i-.v.ling  in  spiritual  things;  or  on  our  ignorance  of 
sevei'ul  customs,  idioms,  and  circumstances,  which 
were  perfectly  known  when  those  books  were  writ- 
ten. Frequently  also  the  immaterial  error  arises 
merely  from  a  wrong  punctuation,  or  a  mistake  of 
copiers,  printers,  or  translators;  as  the  daily  discov- 
eries of  pious  critics,  and  ingenuous  confLSiions  of 
unprejudiced  enquirers,  abundantly  prove. 


Sect.  XlX:h  is  omitted,  as  containing  sentiments 
not  essential  to  the  subject  of  the  letter, 


PART  II. 


SIX  LETTERS 


SPIRITUAL  MAMFESTATION 


SOX  OF  GOD. 


Bv  THE  Rev.  JOHN  FLETCHER, 

Vicar  of  JMaddey. 


I  am  not  mad,  most  noble  Festus ;  but  speak  the 
words  of  truth  and  soberness.  Acts  xxvi.  25. 

Wisdom  is  justified  of  her  children.  Matt.  xi.  19. 


G     2r 


IXTRODUCTION 


TO    THE 


MANIFESTATION  OF  THE  SPIRIT. 


HAVING  in  the  "  method  with  infidels"  demon- 
strated, as  it  is  believed,  the  truth  and  certain 
xialidity  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  we  come  next,  in 
order,  to  prove  the  certiiinty  of  the  manifestation  of 
the  Spirit  of  the  Son  of  God  to  the  souls  and  percep- 
tions of  men. 

This  is  a  doctrine  every  where  taught  in  those 
Scriptures ;  and  its  belief  is  therefore  vital  to  Chris- 
tianity, Fletcher  has,  we  conceive,  proved  the  sound- 
ness of  this  doctrine  in  a  most  inimitable  manner. 
A«  it  is  matter  but  little  better  understood  by  some 
Professors,  than  it  is  misconceived  by  all  Unbelievers, 
(for  some  Professors  "  have  the  form  of  godliness, 
hut  deny  the  poiver  thereof;")  it  is  therefore  sustain- 
ed throughout,  by  the  confession  of  Faith  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  (of  which  he  was  an  eminent 
Pastor,)  as  well  as  by  the  word  of  God. 

Were  the  doctrine  of  regeneration  more  inforced, 
and  of  course  better  understood,  even  among  many 
of  those  who  assume  the  name  of  christians,  Iniidelity 
would  be  spoiled  of  many  of  its  weapons  against 
Christianity.  Sceptics  have  often  but  too  much  rea- 
son to  cry  out  mystery  !  mystery !  when  they  find 
tjlose  wbo  sk)uld  be  al^tb  to  speak  intelligibly  q£  tb« 


ixxx  IXTRODUCTION. 

w«^(»  birth  !  a^to'^^ally  ignorant,  of  the  Scriptural  ac- 
ceplation  of  being"  "born  again"  as  was  Nicodcmus, 
the  marveHing-  "  masier  in  Israel." 

The  operation  of  the  nciu  birth  ("  being  born 
again")  is  Ihe  gi*and  commission  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  the  Comforter  w:is  sent  to  effec-..  For  this, 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God  gave  up  Jus  life  upon  the 
Cross  !  Let  its  importance  ihercfore  be  estimated  by 
the  means  taken  to  cause  it !  Proportionate  to  the 
meavs  must  be  the  end.  Tlie  End  is,  that  millions 
and  millions  of  the  human  race  have  felt  tliis  rene^val 
in  their  hearts  hy  spiritual  tokens,  so  sensible  and 
certain,  that  had  there  been  no  Bible  revelation,  they 
would  not  have  been  the  less  certain  of  their  commu- 
nion and  fellowship  with  God  by  his  spijit.  This  is 
strange  doctrine  to  the  unbeliever,  all  of  whom  we 
may  ask  without  expectation  of  answer,  "  whojuith' 
believed  our  report?"  The  trutli,  is,^  "  Spiritval 
thing's  are  Spirituality  discerned,*'  and  thosfe  who 
have  '*eyes  which  see  not,  and  ears  that  hear  not,"  are 
as  preposterous  in  their  endeavours  at  spiritual  dis- 
cernn>ents,  as  would  be  the  blind  at  setting  them- 
selves  up  for  judges  of  colours.  So  sure  it  'is,  that 
*''the  world,  by  (i^s)  wisdom,  knows  not  God."  But," 
God  has  imparted  this  sure  and  certain  testimony  to 
the  really  good  and  great  in  every  nation  in  Christen- 
dom :  and  the  End  which  we  would  now  wish  to 
make  of  this  gracious  jneans  is  to  avail  ourselves  of 
the  evidence  whicii  the  manifestation  affords,  of  offer-, 
ing  certain  and  rational  assurance  to  the  understand-:, 
ing  of  Deists  in  general,  and  Jews  in  particular,  thaCr^ 
Christ  Las  really  risen,  and  that  the  Comforter  has  ac- 
tually come  !  The  witnesses  for  this  truth,  are  nume- 
rous, and  evr  at  hand!  Yea,  they  are  actually  living- 
throughout  Christendom,  and  will  be  living  en  the 
earth  to  the  end  of  time.  TJiey  are  to  be  found  in  al- 
most every  societ}  nnming  the  name  of  Jesus'!  sure, 
certain,  witnesses  iu-e  they,  to  whom  the  evidence  im- 


INTRODUCTION.  Isxxi 

parted  has  been  so  grom,  ilial  tliey  would  not  cease 
to  believe,  were  the  same  manner  of  internal  evi- 
dence perpetuated,  though  there  should  be  no  Kible ! 
These  are  truths  which  every  Christian  "  k-iiorjs" 
because  he  has  "  the  witness  of  the  Sph'it,  tcstifyiug" 
with  his  Spirit,  that  he  has  pns.ied  from  death  unto 
iife."  This  tlien  is  Ihe  vital  doctrine  to  chargx;  home 
most  upon  unbt;lievers  ;  but  how  shall  they  believe 
who  have  no  spiri-ual  faculties  with  which  to  a})prc- 
tiend  ?  There  is  certainly  an  impediment  on  t/ieir 
part.  But  there  is  yet  ample  means  for  preliminary 
convincemeut,  if  they  will  be  governed  b}  svch  rules 
as  prevail  in  every  other  kmd  of  received  testimony. 
The  evidences  i1k;ti,  are  sucli,  as  may  be  found  in 
every  objectors  city,  village,  or  neighbourhood. 
There  many  have  borne  testimony  to  all  around,  tJiat 
a  sensible  preternatural  change  has  been  wrought 
upon  their  heart. — That  they  know  that  all  their 
former  sinful  affections  and  desires  have  been  totally- 
changed  for  those  that  are  pure  and  holy — indeed, 
the  world  itself  acknowledges  the  change  of  tlieir 
manners  and  conduct ;  they  see  and  confess  the  re- 
form of  a  notorious  debauchee  and  drunkard — Whea 
challenged  with  these  obvious  facts,  the  answer  of 
the  unbel'.ever  is,  it  is  mere  €iiih<uswsm  !  On  other 
occasions  they  perhaps  witness  tlie  tears  and  cries 
of  "penientijU  sorrow,"  or  the  "joy  unspeak- 
able" of  the  sold  *'  delivered  from  tlie  bm-then  of 
sin  too  intolerabie  to  be  borne"  (both  of  which,  the 
Scriptures  continually  teacli,)  and  they  cry  out  shear 
efithvsiasm  .'  This  is  a  loord^  wluch  having  no  kiK)Wu 
derivation,  is  well  adapted  to  so  vague  a  use;  since 
it  IS  evident  those  who  use  it,  never  consider  its 
import,  even  in  their  own  use  of  it.  They  offer  it 
as  an  explication  of  the  cause,  when  in  fact  they  ha\Te 
at  most  but  named  the  effect.  The  cause  is  still  a 
mystery  to  all  but  the  chrisaan,  to  whom  the  Bible 
and  the  Spirit  have  revealed  it.  Cries  and  tears^  let  it 


Ixxxii  INTllODUCTION. 

be  well  considered,  are  not  volmitary  emotions  ; 
neither  are  the  opposite  emotions  of  joy:  they  must 
therefore  be  affected  by  some  //oice^/w/ag-cncy  oi-  cavsc. 
This  therefore  brinp^s  us  to  the  orig-inal  subject  un- 
der consideration,  to  wit  :  the  certain  manifestation 
of  the  Spirit. 

Where  then  shall  we  look  for  the  explication  of 
tlie  mystery,  but  to  the  possessors  of  this  "  chang'c  of 
heart,"  and  to  the  concurrence  of  Scripture  ?  .On 
what  pretext  could  the  testimony  of  these  ivitnesses  be 
rejected,  but  by  taking-  out  a  statute  of  lunacy  a- 
gainst  them ;  and  who  would  be  so  liardy  and  absurd  as 
to  eitlier  ask  it,  or  to  g-rant  it !  They  would  tell  you 
with  Saint  Paul,  'l  am  not  mad,  but  speak  foi'th  the 
words  of  truth  and  soberness :"  Yea,  you  yourselves 
do  know  that  all  of  these  persons  are  at  least  rational 
in  all  their  other  concerns  in  life — And  you  your- 
selves also  know,  they  make  better  members  of  So- 
ciety— Perhaps  many  of  these  witnesses  are  members 
of  your  own  families  ;  perhaps  your  parents,  your 
husbands,  your  wives,  or  your  brethren — These  you 
may  have  seen  surprisingly  transformed  from  g-ross 
wickedness  to  exemplar}-  piety.  In  this  state  they 
continue  uniform  for  their  whole  lives,  during*  aU 
which  time  they  testify  Xheh'  certain,  perceptible,  com- 
Kumicution  with  the  lioly  Spirit — nay,  m^uiy^  have 
sealed  tliis  truth  with  their  blood  ;  and  many  whom 
you  may  now  familiarly  know  are  still  ready  to  offer 
their  bodies  as  a  wHness — The.se  are  not  maniacs, 
but  as  discreet^  sober  men,  as  you  perhaps  esteem 
yourselves  lo  be.  In  short,  if  tlie  case  could  be  set- 
tled ov  judicial  judgmetit,  it  would  forever  be  put  at 
rest:  for  competentira*iona^ ,  c-ood  and  p-reanvitncsses, 
Avould  come  even  from  the  ends  of  the  earth,  to  tes- 
tify on  oath,  the  aertain,  sensible,  perceptible  m.'.nifes- 
tationsof  f'od  o  tvielr  several  souis :  and  whac  would 
be  still  more  confirmatoi-j",  diversity  of  lang-uag-cs 


INTRODUCTION.  Ixxsiii 

and  nations,  would  uU  have  one  spirit  to  speuk.  of 
ur.d  to  g-lonfy  I* 

Reader,  is  it  strange,  tl>at  God  who  is  a  Spiri^, 
and  whom  no  man  hath  seen  at  any  time,  should  have 
a  sure  and  certain  means  of  imparting"  a  knowledge 
of  himself  to  his  creatures ;  or  rather  would  it  not  be 
Hranjer  if  lie  coi/W  not,  or  even  wouWnot?  Anyrhing 
contrary  to  this  scripturaf,  and  even  necessary  means 
of  keeping-  up  the  intercourse  between  God,Hnd  his 
creaturts,  since  bpirit  must  communicate  with  spirit, 
W'juid  be  making  tlic  christian  dispensation  less  locl- 
come  and  less  " glorwus,^^  (which  is  the  revei-se  of  the 
promise)  ihan  it  was  under  the  Mosa'c  Era.  Then 
Christ  came  jn  person  and  revealed  hmiseif :  but  no-w 
iiiat  he  has  risen,  we  have  only  the  meaiis  of  behold- 
ii  g  him^'in  letters  cast  at  the  foundery  and  impressed 
.'•t  the  printer's  !  And  how  many  are  they  of  us  who 
cannot  avail  ourselves  even  of  these  helps;  some  have 
no  money,  and  some  cannot  rei'd.  Alas  !  if  thert-  be  no 
vavifesiation  of  the  Spirit,  wiio  does  not  say,  "  Loid 
we  beseech  thee,  brmg  us  back  to  the  times  of 
Moses,  whence  thou  didst  converse  with  thy  people  : 
they  btheld  thy  glory,  and  received  thy  answers 
Irom  between  the  cherubim  ;  but  we,  alas,  can  nei- 
tlier  see  thee,  feel  tliet;,  nor  communicate  wivh 
thee  !" 

Reader  be  not  self-willed  and  obsthiate  :  but 
prepare  thy  heart  for  the  reception  of  the  truili  as 
it  will  be  ofttred  in  the  fodowing  paues,  which  was 
written  for  one,  wlio,  Ijke  }  ou,  could  not  believe  that 
Crod's  spirit  could  dxvell  in  liie  hearts  of  men  ! 

*  If  objectors  7vi.ll  still  obstinately  persist  in  imbe- 
lirf,  we  will  ask  sucli,  even  on  their  own  vieiy  of 
thing's,  to  discover  some  cause  for  tlie  effects  thus 
exhibiied,  which  philosophy  (which  is  never  .contrary 
io  religion)  may  sanction.  Surely  we  know  of  no 
delusion  (if  it  be  such)  in  any  manner  analogous  • 
Men  both  sane  and  insane,  at  the  same  time ! 


LETTER  I. 

God,  for  purposes  worthy  of  his  wisdom,  maniffsfs 
uinisclt,  sooner  or  ia.ler,"io  all  iiis  since)  e  i'oliowers, 
in  a  spiviniul  itianncr,  whitk  thf  li-orld  knows  not 
cf. 

SJK, 

WIIKX  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  lust,  you  seemed  ^urprhtd  to  hear  me 
say,  that  rhe  Son  of  God,  for  purposes 
worthy  of  his  \\  isdom,  mctn'ifests  himself, 
sooner  or  later,"  to  all  his  sincere  followers, 
in  a  spiritual  manner,  which  the  world 
i<nows  not  of.  The  Ctssertion  appeared  to 
ijou  unscriptural,  enthusiastical,  and  dan- 
gerous. What  I  then  advanced  to  prove, 
that  it  was  scriptural,  rational,  and  of  the 
greatest  importance,  made  you  desire  I 
would  write  to  }  ou  onVtie  mysterious  sub- 
ject. I  declined  it,  as  being  unequal  to  the 
t.isk;  but  having  since  considered,  that  a 
mistake  here  may  endanger  your  soul  or 
mine,  I  sit  down  to  comply  with  5'our  re- 
quest :  And  the  end  1  propose  by  it  is,  ei- 
ther to  give  you  a  fair  opportunit)^  of  point- 
ing out  my  error,  if  I  am  wrong;  or  to  en- 
gage you,  if  I  am  right,  to  seek  what  I  es- 
teem the  most  ixiv  alua'ole  of  all  blessings,— 


80  SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

the  revelations  of  Christ  to  your  own  soul, 
productive  of  the  experimental  knowledge 
of  him,  and  the  present  enjoyment  of  his 
salvation. 

As  an  architect  cannot  build  a  palace, 
unless  he  is  allowed  a  proper  spot  to  erect 
it  upon,  so  I  shall  not  be  able  to  establish 
the  doctrine  I  maintain,  unless  you  allow 
me  the  existence  of  the  proper  senses,  to 
which  our  Lord  manifests  himself.  The 
manifestation  I  contend  for,  being  of  a 
spiritual  nature,  must  be  made  to  spiritual 
senses ;  and  that  such  senses  exist,  and  are 
opened  in,  and  exercised  by  regeneratii 
souls,  is  what  1  design  to  prove  in  this  let- 
ter, by  the  joint  testimony  of  scripture,  our 
churchy  and  reason, 

I.  The  scriptures  inform  us,  that  Adam 
lost  the  experimental  knowledge  of  God  by 
the  fail.  His  foolish  attempt  to  hide  him- 
self  from  his  Creatcu.  whose  eyes  are  in 
every  place,  evidences  the  total  blindness  of 
his  understanding.  The  same  veil  of  un- 
belief, which  hid  God  from  his  mind,  was 
drawn  over  his  heart  and  all  his  spiritual 
senses.  He  died  the  death,  the  moral, 
spiritual  death,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
corruptible  body  sinks  into  the  grave,  and 
the  unregenerate  soul  into  hell. 

J  h  this  deplorable  stute  Adam  begat  his 


SPiniTUAL  MAXIFESTATIOK,  g/ 

children.  We,  like  him  are  not  only  void  of 
the  life  of  God,  but  alienated  from  it, 
through  the  ignorance  that  is  in  us.  llence 
at  is,  that  though  we  are  possessed  of  such 
an  animal  and  rational  life,  as  he  retained 
sifter  the  commission  of  his  sin,  yet  we  are, 
by  naturCy  utter  strangers  to  the  holiness 
and  bliss  he  enjoyed  in  a  state  of  innocence. 
Though  we  have,  in  common  with  beasts, 
bodily  organs  of  sight,  hearing,  tasting, 
smelling,  and  feeling,  adapted  to  outward 
objects  ;  though  we  enjoy,  in  common  with' 
devils,  the  faculty  of  reasoning  upon  natu- 
ral truths,  and  mathematical  propositions, 
yet  we  do  not  understand  supernatural  and 
divine  things.  Notwithstanding  all  our 
speculations  about  them,  we  pan  neither  see 
nor  taste  them  truly,  unless  we  are  arisen 
with  Christ,  and  taught  of  God.  We  may, 
indeed,  speak  and  ivnte  about  them,  as  the 
blind  may  speak  of  colours,  and  the  deaf 
dispute  of  sounds,  but  it  is  all  guess-work^ 
hear-say,  and  mere  conjecture.  The  things 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  camiot  be  discovered, 
but  by  spiritual^  internal  senses,  which  are, 
with  regard  to  the  spiritual  world,  what  our 
bodily,  external  senses  are  v/ith  regard  to 
the  material  Avorld.  They  are  the  on/ij 
medium,  by  which  an  intercourse  between 
Christ  and  our  souls  can  be  opened  and 
maintained. 


88  SPIRITUAL  jMANlFESTA.TION. 

The  exercise  of  these  senses  is  peculiar 
to  these  who  are  born  of  (iod.  They  be- 
long to  wh'it  the  Apostles  ccill  the  new  man^ 
,  the  imvard  man^  the  new  creature^  the  hid- 
den man  of  the  heart.  In  believers,  this 
hidden  man  is  awakened  and  raised  from 
the  dead,  by  the  power  of  Christ's  resurrec- 
tion. Christ  is  his  life,  the  Spirit  of  God 
is  his  spirit,  prnver  or  praise  his  breath, 
h.oliness  his  health,  and  Icve  his  element. 
We  read  of  his  hunger  and  thirst,  food  and 
drink,  garment  and  habitation,  arm.our  and 
conflicts,  pain  and  pleasure,  fainting  and 
reviving,  growing,  walking,  and  working. 
All  this  supposes  senses,  and  the  more 
these  senses  are  quickened  by  God,  and 
exercised  by  the  new  born  soul,  the  clearer 
and  stronger*  is  his  perception  of  divine 
things. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  unbelievers,  the 
inward  man  is  deaf,  blind,  naked,  asleep  ; 
yea,  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  :  and  cf 
course,  as  incapable  of  perceiving  spiritvcl 
things,  as  a  person  in  a  deep  sleep,  or  a 
dead  man  of  discovering  outward  objects. 
St.  Paul's  language  to  liim  is,  "Awake, 
thou  that  sh'epest^  arise  from  the  dead,  and 
Christ  shall  give  thee  light."  He  calls  him 
a  natural  man,  one  who  hath  no  higher  life, 
than  that  his  parents  conve}ed  to  him  by 


SPIRITUAL  MAMf^STATIOX.  $9 

natural  generation— one  who  follows  the 
dictates  of  his  own  sensual  soul,  and  is  nei- 
ther horn  of  God,  nor  led  by  the  spirit  of 
God.  "  The  natural  man,*'  says  the  Apos- 
tle, "receivcth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit, 
for  they  are  foolishness '2/7?fo  //z;??,  neither 
can  he  know  them,  because  they  are  spirit- 
ually discerned."  He  has  no  sen.s-e  proper- 
ly exercised  for  this  kind  of  discernment, 
his  "  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  nei- 
ther have  entered  into  his  heart,  the  things 
which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that 
love  him." 

The  revers«  of  the  natural  man  is  the 
spiritual,  so  called,  because  God  hath  re- 
veaied  sniritual  things  to  him  by  his  Spirit, 
who  is  nrow  in  him  a  principle  of  spiritual 
and  eternal  life.  "  The  spiritual  man,"says 
the  Apdstle,  "  judgeth,  i,  e.  discerneth  all 
things,  H^et  he  himself  is  discerned  of  no 
one."  ^he  high  state  he  is  in,  can  no  more 
be  dis^med  by  the  natural  man,  than  the 
conditmn  of  the  natural  man  can  be  discern- 
ed by  a  brute.=^'  f    '• 

St.  Paul  not  oriiy  describes  the  spiritual 
man,  but  speaks  particularly  of  his  i?iternal 
moral  senses^  Christians,  says  he,  of  full  age, 
by  reason  of  tise,  have  their  senses  exercised 

•  lCor.il.  J)— 15.-  '  '    "< 

t  TovainmPa  this  is'-amost  humiliating  doctrine, ' 
H  2 


90  SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

to  disqern  good  and  evil. '^.  He  prays,  tha.t the 
love  of  the  Philippians  ^Mnay  abound  more 
and  more  in  knowledge,  and  £v  ttxth  eciTB^va-ei 
in  all  sense  or  feeling."!  The  scriptures 
constantly  mention,  or  allude  to  one  or  other 
of  these  spiritual  senses  ;-— Give  me  leave 
to  produce  some  instances.  ;  . 

1.  To  begin  with  the  Sight.  Sti.  Paul 
prays,  that  the  eyes  of  his  converts  being 
enlightened,  they  mi^^ht  know  what  is  the 
hope  of  their  calling.  He  reminds,  jdiem,' 
that  Christ  had  been  evidently  set  forth 
crucified  before  their  eyes.  He  assures 
them,  that  the  God  of  this  world  hath  blihd- 
ed  the  eyes  of  them  that  believe  not  the 
gospel ;  and  declares  that  his  commission 
was  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  Gentiles,  and 
tarn  them  from  darkness  to  light.  Abra- 
ham saw  Christ's  day,  and  was  glad.  ]\foses, 
persevered,  as  seeing  him  v/ho  is  invlsibifi, 
David  prayed,  Open  my  eyes  that  I 'may 
see  wonders  out  of  thy  Law.  Our  liord 
complains,  that  the  heart  of  unUlievers.ia/ 
waxed  gross,  that  thtAr  ears  are  dull' i>f 
hearing,  and  that  they  Jiave  closet!  tMir 
■ei/es^  lest  they  should  see  with  their  e.y.es,> 
understand  with  their  hearts,  and  be  .jconv, 
verted.  Re  counsels  the  Tiaodiceans^.  to 
anoint  their  eyes  with  eyi  -salve,  that  they 
might  see.  He  5J^clar^s,;.t.hat  the  world  can- 
*  Heb.v.  14.    *     •  t  Phil.  i.  9. 


SPIRITUAL  MANtFESTATIOX  91 

not  receive  the  Spirit  of  truth,  becnuse  it 
sees  him  not ;  that  the  tilings  which  belong 
to  the  p;.^ace  of  obstin:Ue  unbehet:£rs,  are^ 
at  last,  judiciaUy  hid  from  their  eyes'; 
and  that  the  Jji've  in  heart  shall  see  God. 
St.  John  testifies,  that  he  who  does  evil, 
hath  not  sct^n  God  ; -and  that  darkness  hath' 
blinded  the  ejes  of  him,  that  loves  not  his 
brother*  The  lloly  Ghost  informs  us,  that 
btlievers T'j^y^  at  the  things  uhich  are'7?cf 
seen^  and  behold  the  glory  of  God,  shining 
in»the'  face  oi  Jesus  Christ.  These  are  th'^ 
eyes-,  with  which  believers  see  the  salvation 
of  God.  They  are-  so  distinct  from  thosft 
of  the- Z'^////,  that  when  our  Lord  opened 
theni'm  St.  Paul's  :90z.7fhe  suffered  scales  to 
gi'ow  'ov-r  his  bodilif  eyes.  And  no  doubt',' 
when.  Christ  gave  bntxvard  s\^t  to  the, 
blitKl,'it  v;as  chiefly  to'cohvince  the  worlyl, 
that  it  is  he  v/ho  ciin  say  to  hlind  sinner?'. 
Receive  j^our  sight;  see  the  goodness  of  the 
Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living;  look  mito 
me  and  he  saved.     ■' 

2.  If  you  do  not  admit  of  k  spiritual 
He  A-KiNo;'what  cati'y'ou  make'cf  our  Lord's \ 
repeated  caution,  hVth:\t  hath/an  car  to  hear, 
let  him  hear  ?  And  what  c'lmbe  the  meaningof 
the  follow ihg  scriptures— Hear,  O  foolish 
people,  who  have  e^ars  arid  hear  not.]  Ye  iin- 
circumcii^ed  in  heart  ?:hd 'eafs.     Ye  cannot 


92  SPIHITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

hear  my  words ;  ye  are  of  ydur  father  tHt; 
Devil.  lie  that  is  of  God  heareth  God's 
words;  ye,  therefore,  hear  them  not,  be- 
cause ye  are  not  of  God  ?  Can  it  be  suppos- 
ed, that  our  Lord  spake  of  outward  hear- 
ing, when  he  said.  The  hour  cometh,  and  " 
now  is,  that  the  dead  shall  hear  the  voic^  of 
the  8on  of  God  and  live.  My  sheep  hear 
my  voice.  He  that  hath  heard  and  learn-ed 
of  the  Father,  cometh  unto  me.  Do  not  all 
sinners  stand  spiritually  in  need  of  Christ's 
powerful  Ephphatha,  Be  thou  opened  ?  Is 
that  man  truly  converted,  who  cannot  wit- 
ness with  Isaiah,  The  Lord  hath  wakened 
my  ear  to  hear  as  the  learned ;  and  with 
the  Psalmist,  Mine  ears  hast  thou  opened? 
Had  not  tlie  believers  at  Ephesus  heard 
Christ,  and  been  taught  of  him  ?  "Wh^  St. 
Paul  was  caught  up  into  the  third  heaven; 
did  he  not  hear  words  unspeakable  ?  And 
far  from  thinking  spiritual  hearing  absurd, . 
or  impossible,  did  he  not  question,  whether- 
he  was  not  then  out  of  the  body  ?  And  does 
not  St.  John  positively  declare,  tha.t  be 
was  in  the  Spirit,  when  he  heard  Jesus  say, 
I  am  the  first  and  the  laat  ? 

'3.  How  void  of  meiining  are  the  foUoW"  \ 
in^' passages,  if  they  do. not  allude  to  that 
SENSE,  which  is  calculated  for  the  reception 
of,  what  the  barrenness  of  human  language 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  93 

compels  me  to  call  spirfh(al\)erhime^  ?  The 
s?7:ell  of  thy  ointments  is  hetter^than  all 
spices.  The  ^??7f//of  thv  g:arments  is  like  the 
smell  of  Lebanon.  All  thy  garments  S77iell 
of  mvrrh,  aloes,  and  cassia  ;  and  because  of 
the  favour  of  thv^  good  ointments,  thy  name 
is  as  ointment  poured  forth. 

4.  If  believers  have  not  a  spiritual  facul- 
ty of  TASTING  divine  things,  what  delusion 
must  they  be  under,  when  they  say,  Christ's 
fruit  is  sweet  to  their  taste  ;  and  cry  out, 
How  svjeet  are  thy  rvords-  to  my  taste  !  they 
are  sweeter  than  honey  to  my  mouth  ?  But 
how  justlv  can  they  speak  thus,  if  they  have 
tasted  the  hea^'enlT  gift,  and  the  good  word 
of  God,  and,  as  new  born  babes,  desire  the 
sincere  milk  of  it?  vSurely,  if  they  6'<7?  the 
fle<^h  of  the  Son  of  God,  drmk  his  blood 
and  taste  that  the  liOrd  is  gracious,  they 
have  a  right  to  testify,  tliat  his  love  is  bet- 
ter than  wine ;  and  to  invite  those  that  hun- 
ge:r  and  tl^irst  after  righteousness,  to  taste 
that  the  liOrd  is  good,  that  they  also  maj' 
he  sntisficd  with  hi?  goodness  and  mercv,  as 
with  marrow  and  fatness. 

5.  If  ve  are  not  to  be  nf-^fect  stoics  in 
religion,  if  we  should  have  one  degree  more 
of  devotion,  than  the  marble  statutes,  which 
adorn  our  churches,  we  should  have,  I 
think,  some  feeling  of  our  unworthiness. 


94  SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATIOK. 

some  SENSE  of  God's  majesty.  Christ's 
tender  heart  ,was  pierced  to  atone  for,  and 
to  remove  the  hardnesfi  oi  ours,  God  pro- 
mises to  take  from  us  the  heart  of  stone, 
and  to  give  us  an  heart  of  flesh,  a  broken 
and  contrite  heart,  the  sacrifice  of  which, 
he  will  not  despise.  Good  king  Josiah 
was  praised,  because  his  heart  was  tender. 
The  conversion  of  the  three  thousand,  on 
the  day  of  pentecost,  began  by  their  being 
pricked  in  their  heart.  We  are  directed  to 
feel  after  God,  if  haply  we  might  find  him. 
Our  Lord  himself  is  not  ashamed  to  be 
touched,  in  heaven^  with  a  feeling  of  otir 
infirmities.  And  St.  Paul,  intimates,  that 
the  highest  degree  of  obduracy  and  aposta- 
cy,  is  to  be  past  feeling,  and  to  have  our 
conscience  seared  as  with  a  hot  iron. 

I  hope,  Sir,  you  will  not  attempt  to  set 
aside  so  many  plain  passages,  by  saying, 
they  are  unfit  to  support  a  doctrine,  as  con- 
taining empty  metaphcrs^  which  amount  just 
to  nothing.  This  would  be  pouring  the 
greatest  contempt  on  the.  perspicuity  of  the 
oracles  of  God,  the  integ'ritij  of  the  sacred 
writers,  and  the  xvrsdoin  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
who  inspired  them.  As  certainly  as  there  is 
a  spiritual  life,  th^re  art  senses  calculated  for 
the  display  nnd  enjoyment  of  it;  and  these 
spises  exist  no  more  in  metaphor,  than  the 


SPIRITUAL  MAKIFESTATION.  95 

life  that  exerts  itself  by  them.  Our  Lord  set- 
tied  the  point,  when  he  declared  to  Nicode- 
mus,  that  no  man  can  see  the  kingdom  of  God  ^ 
the  kingdom  of  grace  here,  and  of  glory  here- 
after, except  he  is  first  born  of  God,  born  of 
the  Spirit;  just  as  no  child  can  see  this  world, 
except  he  is  first  born  of  a  woman,  born  of 
the  flesh.  Hence  it  appears,  that  a  regenerate 
soul  hath  his  spiritual  senses  opened^  and 
made  capable  of  disserning  what  btrlongs  to 
the  spiritual  world,  as  a  new  born  infant 
hath  his  natural  senses  unlocked,  and  begins 
to  see,  hear,  and  taste,  what  belongs  to  the 
material  world  into  which  he  enters. 

II.  These  declarations  of  the  Lord,  his 
prophets,  and  apostles,  need  no  confirma- 
tion. Nevertheless,  to  show  you,  Sir,  that 
1  do  not  mistake  their  meaning,  I  shall  add 
the  testimony  of  our  own  excellent  church. 
As  she  strictly  agrees  with  the  scripture, 
she  makes  also  frequent  mention  of  spiritual 
sensations^  and  you  know,  Sir,  that  sensa^ 
tioiis  necessarily  suppose  senses.  She  prays, 
that  God  would  "  give  us  a  due  sense  of  his 
inestimable  love  in  the  redemption  of  the 
world,  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."*  She 
begs,  that  he  would  "  make  us  know  and 
feel  there  is  no  other  name  than  that  of  Je- 

*  Tbanksg'ivlng. 


96  S  P1R1TU*.^L  MANIFESTATION. 

♦  ■■■•-  •  .- 

sus,  whereby  we  must  be  saved."'^  She  af- 
firms, that  true  penitents  ftel  "  the  burdeu 
of  their  sias  mtokrable  ;"f  that  godly  per- 
sons "  feel  in  themselves  the  workings  of 
Christ's  S()ini;"^  that  *•' the  Lord  speaks 
presently  to  us  in  the  scriptures,  to  the  great 
and  endless  coiidort  oi  all  that  have  any 
feeling  of  God  in  them  at  ail ;"  tiiat  "  god- 
ly tncnjelt^  imvurJ/t/^  the  Holy  Ghost  ///- 
fiiim'ing  their  hearts  with  the  fear  and  love 
of  God,  and  that  they  are  miserable  wretch- 
es, who  have  no  feeling  of  God  withia 
them  at  ail  :"§  And,  that  '^  if  we  feel  the 
heavy  burden  oi  our  s'ms  pressing-  our  souis, 
and  tormtntini^-  us  with  the  tear  of  death, 
hell,  and  damnation,  we  must  steadiastiy 
behold  Christ  crucified,  with  t\\Q  eyes  of 
our  heart.'^fl  Our  church  farther  declares, 
x.W.i.i^'' true  fa'it'ii  is  not  in  the  mouUi  and 
outivard  prolession  onlv,  but  livviti  and 
stirrcth  inwan/ic/  in  iha  hearty  and  that  if 
we  feel  and  perceive  such  a  iaitii  in  lis,  wc 
7nu!it  rejoice  ;"'^*  tha:  '•'•  correction,  though 
jjainiul,  briugeth  wun  it  a  ta^Le  ot  Goa's 
goodness  ;"[f  'i/hat  '*•  if  a'ter  comruion,  we 
feel  our  consciences    at  peave  witli    God, 

*  OfRce  for  tlie  sick.  \  Coinnuiuiun  ^  IT  -V  ■  ,cle 
§  Horn,  on  cei'tuiii  plur^s  of  scrip;  ui-e.  ^j  2  Hosn.  on 
ihe  p;issi{>n.  **  flom.  on  faith,  1st  and  3d  piirc 
i;-^  \\<m\   on  the  fear  of  de:iUi,  2d  part. 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  97 


through  the  remission  of  our  sin,  it  Is  God 
who  xvorketh  that  great  miracle  in  us ;"  and 
she  prays,  that,  *'as  this  knowledge  'And  feel- 
ing- is  not  in  ourselves,  and  as  by  ourselves, 
it  is  not  possible  to  come  by  it,  the  Lord 
would  give  us  grace  to  know  these  things, 
and  j^^/ them  in  our  hearts."-^  She  begs, 
that  '^  God  would  assist  us  widi  his  Holy 
Spirit,  that  we  may  hearken  to  the  voice  of 
the  good  Shepherd."!  ^^^  ^^^^  ^s  upon 
asking  continually^  that  the  Lord  would 
"  lighten  our  darkness,"  and  deliver  us  from 
the  two  heaviest  plagues  of  Pharaoh, 
"blindness  and  hardness  of  heart.":}:  And 
she  affirms,  that  if  we  will  be  profitable 
hearers  of  the  scriptures,  we  must  keep  un- 
der our  C(2r7z«/ senses,  taken  by  the  outward 
words,  search  the  inward  meaning,  and 
give  place  to  the  Holy  Ghost,"  whose  pe- 
ailiar  office  it  is  to  open  our  spiritual  senses, 
as  he  opened  Lydia's  heart.§ 

If  I  did  not  think  the  testimony  of  our 
blessed  reformers,  founded  upon  that  of  the 
sacred  writt  rs,of  suffici  :nt  weight  to  turn  the 
scale  of  your  sentiments,  I  could  throw  in 
the  declarations  of  mimy  ancient  and  mo- 

*  Horn,  for  Rog-ation  week,  3d  part,    f  Horn,  on 
repent,  2d  part,    t  Even,  prayer  and  Litany.  §  Hom 
ou  certain  places  of  sciipture. 
T 


98  SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATIOK. 

dern  divines.  To  instance  in  two  or  thrfec 
oniy :  St.  Cyrill,  in  the  xiii  Book  of  his 
Treasure,  affirms,  that,  "  nitin  know  Jesus 
is  the  Lord,  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  no  other- 
wise than  they,  who  taste  honey,  know  it  is 
sweet,even  by  its  proper  quality."  Dr.  Smith 
of  Queen's  College,  Cambridge,  in  his  select 
discourses,  observes,  after  Plotinus,  that 
"  God  is  best  discerned  voe'pa,  rt]  ci(pn  by  Intel' 
lectual  touch  of  him."  We  must,  says  he, 
"see  with  our  eyes,  to  use  St.  John's 
words ;  we  niust  hear  with  our  ears,  and 
our  hands  must  handle  the  word  of  life, 
ecrri  ytt^  '4<^x^^  citfrh.'ri;  m  for  the  soiil  hath  its 
sense  as  well  as  the  body."  And  bishop 
Hopkins,  in  his  treatise  on  the  new  birt/iy 
accounts  for  the  papists  denying  the  know- 
ledge of  salvation,  by  saying,  "  It  is  no 
wonder,  that  they  w^ho  will  not  trust  their 
natural  senses  in  the  doctrine  of  transub- 
stantiation,  should  not  their  spiritual  ones 
in  the  doctrine  of  assurance,'^'' 

III.  But  instead  of  proving  the  point  by 
multiplying  quotations,  let  me  intreat  you, 
sir,  to  weigh  the  following  observations  in 
the  balance  of  reason. 

I .  Do  not  all  grant,  there  is  such  a  thing 
as  hioral  sense  in  the  M^orld,  and  that  to  be 
utterly  void  of  it,  is  to  be  altogether  unfit 
for  social  life?     If  you  had  given  a  friend 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  09 

the  greatest  prooffc  ol  yo^ur  love,  woukl  not 
he  be  inexcusable,  if  he  felt  no  gratitude, 
and  had  absohitely  no  sense  of  your  kind- 
ness. Now,  if  moral  sense  and  feeling  are 
universally  allowed,  between  man  and  man, 
in  civil  life,  why  should  it  appear  incredi- 
ble or  irrational,  that  there  should  be  such 
a  thing,  between  God  and  man,  in  the  di- 
vine life  t 


* 

* 

^ 

# 

# 

# 

# 

* 

* 

# 

# 

# 

* 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

* 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

* 

# 

# 

^ 

# 

* 

# 

# 

# 

-* 

* 

# 

# 

4.  To  conclude,  if  material  objects  can- 
not be  perceived  by  man  in  his  present  state, 
but  through  the  medium  of  one  or  other  of 
his  bodily  senses ;  by  7i.  parity  of  reason, 
spiritual  objects  cannot  be  discovered,  but 
through  one  or  other  of  the  senses,  which 
belong  to  the  inward  man.  God  being  a 
Spirit^  cannot  be  worshipped  in  truth,  un- 
less he  is  known  in  spirit.  You  may  as 
soon  imagine,  how  a  blind  man,  by  reason- 
ing on  what  he  feels  or  tastes  can  get  true 
ideas  of  light  and  colours,  as  how  one,  w  ho 
has  no  spiritual  senses  opened,  can,  by  all 
his  reasoning  and  guessing,  attain  an  expe- 
rimental knowledge  of , the  invisible  Ged. 

Thus,  from  the  joint  testimony  of  scrip- 


100         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

ture,  of  our  church,  and  of  reason,  it  appears 
that  spiritual  senses  are  a  blessed  reality. 
1  have  dwelt  so  long  on  the  proof  of  their 
existence  for  two  reasons.  First,  They 
ajre  of  infinite  use  in  religion.  Saving  faith 
cannot  subsist  and  act  \yithout  them.  If 
St.  Paul's  definition  of  that  grace  be  just, 
if  it  is  "  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for, 
the  evidence  of  things  not  seen,"  it  must 
be  a  principle  of  spiritual  life,  more  or  less, 
attended  with  the  exercise  of  these  senses  ; 
according  to  the  poetic  and  evangelical  lines 
of  Dr.  Young, 

"  My  heart  awake. 
Feels  the  g^reat  truths  :  To  Feel  to  be  fir'd, 
And  to  believe,  Lorenzo,  is  to  feel." 

Till  professors  see  the  necessity  of  believ- 
ing, in  this  manner,  they  rest  in  a  refined 
form  of  godliness.  To  the  confidence  of 
the  Antinomians,  they  may  indeed,  join  the 
high  profession  of  the  foolish  virgins.  They 
may  even  crown  their  partial  assent  to  the 
truths  of  the  gospel  with  the  zeal  of  Phari- 
sees, and  the  regularity  of  moralists  ,*  but 
still  they  stop  short  of  the  new  creation, 
the  new  hirth^  the  life  of  God  in  the  soul 
of  man.  Nay  more,  they  stumble  at  some 
of  the  most  important  truths  of  Christiani- 
ty, and  think  the  discoveries,  that  sound 
believers  have  of  Christ  and  the  spiritual 


SPIRITUAL  MAXIFESTATIOX.  joi 

'f  ■' 

world,  .u-c  cnthustasizcal  delusions,  or,  at 
least,  extraordinary  favours^  which  they 
can  very  well  do  without.  .Thus,  even 
while  the)'  allow  the  power  of  godliness 
in  others^  they  rest  satisfied  without  experi- 
encing it  i^n  themselves,  ' 

Secondiv,  What  I  shall  write  will  depend 
very  much  on  die  existence  or  spiritual 
senses ;  and  if  this  letter  convinces  you, 
that  thev  arc  opened  in  every  newborn  soul, 
you  will  more  easily  beiie\'e,  Christ  can 
and  does  manifest  himself  by  that  proper 
medium  ;  and  my  letter  on  divine  manifes- 
tations will  meet  with  a  less  prejudiced 
reader. 

That  Emmanuel,  the  light  of  the  world, 
may  direct  me  to  write  with  soberness  and 
truth,  and  you  to  read  with  attention  and 
candour,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of.  Sir, 
Yours,  &;c. 


1   .2 


LETTER  II. 

What  is  the  nature  of  that  manifestation,  which  makes 
the  believer  more  than  conqueror  over  sin  and 
death. 

SIR, 
HAVING  proved  in  my  first  letter, 
the  existence  of  the  spiritual  senses,  to 
which  the  Lord  manifests  himself;  1  shall 
now  enter  upon  that  subject,  by  letting  you 
know,  as  far  as  my  pen  can  do  it, 

I.  What  is  the  nature  of  that  manifesta- 
tion, which  makes  the  believer  more  than 
conqueror  over  sin  and  deaths 

1.  Mistake  me  not,  Sir,  for  the  pleasure 
of  calling  me  enthusiast,  I  do  not  insist, 
as  you  may  imagine,  upon  a  manifestation 
of  the  voice,  body,  or  blood  of  our  Lord  to 
our  external  senses.  Pilate  heard  Christ's 
voice,  the  Jews  saw  his  body,  the  soldiers 
handled  it,  and  some  of  them  were  literally 
sprinkled  with  his  blood  ;  but  this  answered 
no  spiritual  end :  They  knew  not  God 
manifest  in  the  flesh. 

2.  Nor  do  I  understand  such  a  knowledge 
of  our  Redeemer's  doctrine,  offices,  pro- 
mises and  performances,  as  the  natural 
man  can  attain,  by  the  force  of  his  under- 
standing  and  memory.     All  carnal  profes- 

^rs,  all  foolish  virgins,  by  conversing  with 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  103 

true  Christians,  hearing  gospel  sermons, 
and  reading  evangelical  books,  attain  to 
the  historical^  and  doctrinal  knowledge  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Their  understandings  are 
informed  ;  but,  alas  !  their  hearts  remain 
unchanged.  Acquainted  with  the  letter^ 
they  continue  ignorant  of  the  Spirit,  Boast- 
ing, perhaps,  of  the  greatness  of  Christ's 
salvacion,  they  remain  altogether  unsaved ; 
and,  full  of  talk  about  what  he  hath  done 
for  thcm^  they  know  nothing  of  Christ  in 
them^  the  hope  of  glory. 

3.  Much  less  do  V  mean  such  a  repre- 
sentation of  our  LonTs  person  and  suifer- 
ings,  as  the  natural  man  can  form  to  him- 
self, by  the  force  of  a  warm  imagination, 
Manv,  bv  seeing  a  striking  picture  oi  Jesus 
bleeding  on  the  cross,  or  hearing  a  pathetic 
discourse  on  his  agony  in  the  garden,  are 
deeply  affvicted  and  melted  into  tears. 
Thev  raise  in  themselves  a  lively  idea  of  a 
great  and  good  man  unjustly  tortured  to 
death  ;  their  soft  passions  are  wrought  up- 
on, and  />?45/  fills  their  heaving  breasts. 
But,  alas  !  they  remain  strangers^  to  the 
revelation  of  the  Son  of  God  by  the  Holy 
Ghost.  The  murder  of  Julius  Cicsar,  pa- 
tlietically  described,  would  have  the  same 
effect  upon  them,  as  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus 
Christ.     A  deep  play  would  touch  them  as 


104  SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATI^. 

easily  as  a  deef)  sermon,  and  much  to  tli.r 
^«?;«e  purpose  ;  for  in  either  case,  their. im- 
pressions and  their  tears  arc  geiierally 
wiped  away  together. 

4.  Nor  yet  do  I  understand  good  desires, 
mehings  of  heart,  victories  over  particular 
cprruptions,  a  confidence  that  the  Lord  can 
Jlind  will  save  us,  power  to  stay  ourselves 
on  some  promises,  gleams  of  joy,  rays  of 
comfort,  enlivening  hopes,  touches  of  love  ; 
no,  not  even  foretastes  of  christian  liberty, 
and  of  the  good  word  of  God.  These  are 
rather  the  delightful  drawings  of  the  Father 
than  the  powerful  revelation  of  the  Son. 
These,  like  the  star,  that  led  the  wise  men 
for  a  time,  then  disappeared^  and  appeared 
again,  are  helps  and  encouragement  to  come 
to  Christ,  and  not  a  divine-union  with  him, 
by  the  revelation  of  himself. 

I  can  more  easily  tell  j^ou,  Sir,  what  this 
revelation  is  not^  than  what  it  is.  The 
tongues  of  men  and  angels  vf^nt  proper 
words  to  express  the  siveetness  and  glory y 
with  which  the  Son  of  God  visits  the'  souls 
that  cannot  rest  without  him.*  This  bless- 


*  Let  the  reader  mark  the  fervor  and  energy  of 
those  words,  as  well  as  many  more,  which  will  be 
f6tind  in  the  following'  letters.  They  are  the  common 
language  of  christians,  and  must  not  by  any  means 
be  considweil  as  hjiierboles  or  metaphors  of  speecji. 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  10 j 

ing  is  not  to  be  ditscrihed^  but  enjoyed.  It 
is  to  be  written^  not  xvitli  irik^  but  uit/i  the 
Spirit  of  the  living'  God^  not  on  pciper^  or 
tables  of  stone,  but  in  the  fleshly  tables  of 
the  heart.  May  the  Lord  himself  exphtiu 
the  mystery,  by  giving  you  to  eat  ot  the 
hidden  manna,  and  bestowing  upon  you 
the  new  name,  which  no  man  knows,  savo 
he  that  receives  it!  In  the  mean  time,  take 
a  view  of  the  following  rough  draft  of  this 
mercy ;  and,  if  it  is  agreeable  to  the  letter 
of  the  word,  pray  that  it  may  be  engraved 
on  your  heart,  by  the  power  of  the  Spirit. 

The  revelation  of  Christ,  by  which  a 
carnal  professor  becomes  a  holy  and  happy 
possessor  of  the  faith,  is  a  supernatural^ 
spiritual^  experimental^  manifestation  of 
the  Spirit^  poxver^  and  love^  and  sometimes 
of  \}i\<:  per^^on  of  God  manifest  in  the  flesh, 
w  hereby  he  is  knoxvn  and  enjoyed  in  a  man- 
ner altogether  nexv :  as  new,  as  the  know- 
ledge a  mjtn  v.ho  never  tasted  any  thin^r 
but  bread  and  water,  would  have  of  honey 
and  wine,  suppose,  being  dissatisfied  with 

dealer,  can  a  save  man,  so  far  fancy  himself  hapfy 
when  he  is  not  !  And  is  it  christians  only,  who  use 
etter^etic  words  without  import  !  The  truth  is,  they 
use  words  with  the  most  studious  selfcHov^  and  yet 
find  the  fittest  s'yle  buideqnate  to  the  full  expression 
of  their  consciousness. 


106  SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

the  best  descriptions  of  those  rich  produc- 
tions of  nature,  he  actually  tasted  them  for 
himself. 

This  majtifestation  is,  sooner  or  later,  in 
a  higher  or  lower  degree,  vouchsafed  to 
every  sincere  seeker,  through  the  medium 
of  one  or  more  of  the  spiritual  senses  open- 
ed m  his  soul,  in  a  gradual  or  instantaneous 
manner,  as  it  pleases  God.  No  sooner  is 
the  veil  of  unbelief  which  covers  the  heart 
rent,  through  the  agency  of  the  Spirit,  and 
the  efforts  of  the  soul  struggling  into  a 
living  belief  of  the  word  :  no  sooner,  I  say, 
is  the  door  of  faith  opened,  than  Christ, 
who  stood  at  the  door  and  knocked,  comes 
in, -and  discovers  himself  full  of  grace  and 
truth.  Then  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  witfi 
man.  His  kingdom  comes  with  poxveff 
Righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost  spread  through  the  nexv  born  soul'| 
eternal  life  begins  ;  heaven  is  opened  otj 
earth;  the  conscious  heir  of  glory  cries 
Abba,  Father;  and  from  blessed  experience 
can  witness,  that  he  is  come  to  "  mount 
Sion,  and  to  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the 
heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable 
company  of  angels  ;  to  the  general  assem- 
bly and  church  of  the  first  born,  which  are 
written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the  judge  of 
uU,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  per- 


SPIRITUAL  MANW'SSTATIOX,  lor 

feet,  and  to  Jesus  the  mediator  of  the  new 
covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  sprinklmg, 
which  speaketh  better  things  than  the  blood 
of  Abel." 

If  this  manifestation  is  duly  improved, 
the  effects  of  it  are  admirable.  The  believ- 
er's hearty  now  set  at  libertij  from  the  guilt 
and  dominion  of  sin,  and  drawn  by  the  love 
of  Jesus,  pants  after  great  conformity  to 
his  holy  will,  and  mounts  up  to  him  in 
prayer  and  praise.  His  life  is  a  course  of 
cheerful  evangelical  obedience,  and  his 
most  common  actions  become  good  works, 
done  to  the  glory  of  God.*     If  he  walks 

*  The  Sceptic  may,  if  he  chooses  to  make  the  crc- 
periDieiit,  become  himself  a  convert  to  this  trutli. 
Let  him  but  impose  upon  himself  the  task  of  " proyer 
and  pt^aiscy*  (which  all  mankind  acknowledg-e  (hie 
fi-om  the  creature  to  the  creator)  and  he  will  soon 
discover,  he  vntst  have  iie~o  dispositions  to  be  even 
able  to  endure  tlie  painful  toil  thoug'h  it  be  but  a  duty 
of  a  sing-le  week.  Such  an  experiment  might  coj}- 
ttince  the  imtvUlm^  devotee,  that  even,  heaven  itself, 
where  prayer  and  praise  is  the  perpetual  business  of 
spirits,  would  be  a  misery  too  intolerable  to  be 
borne!  But  sinners  hope  to  be  ^* changeiV  in  llecn- 
en !  Alas !  they  must  be  changed  here^  or  never  be 
with  God.  "Who  does  not  see  their  certain,  though 
indirect,  confession  of  the  necessity/  of  a  change  of 
heart?  Sinners,  \ owr pleas%ire  or  painy  m prayer  and 
praise f  is  the  test  by  which  wo?/  m&y  hnoiv  whether 
you  are  depraved  and  unfitted  for  death  and  judge- 
ment, or  not. 


108;        SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

up  to  his  privileges,  outward  objects  entan- 
gle him  no  more.  Having  found  the  great 
1  AM,  the  eternal  substance,  he  looks  upon 
all  created  things  as  shadows.  Man,  the 
most  excellent  of  all,  appears  to  him  alto- 
gether lighter  than  vanity.  Yea,  doubtless, 
he  counts  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excel- 
lency of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  his 
Lord ;  esteeming  them  but  dung,  that  he 
may  win  Christ,  and,  to  the  last,  be  found 
in  him,  not  having  his  own  righteousness, 
but  that  which  is  through  the  faith  of 
Christ :  that,  by  new  discoveries  of  him- 
self, he  may  know  him  and  the  power  of 
his  resurrection  every  day  more  clearly. 
In  the  mean  time,  he  casts  his  sins  and 
miseries  upon  Jesus,  and  Jesus  bestows  his 
righteousness  and  happiness  upon  him  Jle 
puts  on  Christ,  and  becomes  the  partaker  of 
the  divine  nature.  Thus,  they  are  mutu- 
ally interested  in  each   other ;  and  to  use 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here,  to  say  further,  that  if 
the  sinner  woiiUl  make  the  experiment  of  sincere 
prayers. to  his  creator,  for  his  enlightening  wisdom 
to  be  bestowed  upon  him,  in  the  discernment  of  his 
ii)itl,  and  granting  he  is  but  willing"  to  follow  tliat 
-will,  if  revealed,  such  a  one  shall  surely  feel  in  him- 
self/acw  emotions  to  which  he  was  all  his  lift  before  a 
stranger.  Sinner  make  the  evperiment  unfclgnedly, 
and  "  you  shall  (surely)  know  of  the  doctrine, whetlier 
it  be  of  God  or  of  mua." 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  tQ9 

St.  Paul's  endearing  expressions,  they  are 
espoused  and  married.  Joined  by  the 
double  band  of  redeeming  love  and  saving 
faith,  they  are  one  spirit,  as  Adam  aixi 
Eve,  by  matrimony  were  one  flesh.  '*  This 
is  a  great  mystery,"  says  the  Apostle,  bu^ 
thanks  be  to  Ood,  it  is  made  manifest  tp 
his  saints."* 

II.  If  you  ask,  Sir,  how  can  these  things 
be  ?  Describe  to  me  the  particular  manner 
of  these  manifestations,  I  reply  in  our 
Lord's  words  to  Nicodemus,  "  Art  thou  a 
master  in  Israel,"  nay  more,  a  Christian, 
"  and  knowest  not  these  things  ?"  Verily,  I 
say  unto  you,  though  we  cannot  fix  the  ex^ 
act  mode,  and /?r^  we  manner  of  the  breath- 
ing of  the  Spirit,  yet  we  speak  what  we  do 
know^  and  testify  what  we  have  seen^  but 
you  receive  not  our  witness.  Marvel  not, 
however,  if  we  find  it  impossible  to  tell  you 
all  the  particulars  of  a  divine  manifestation. 
You  yourself  though  yow  feel  the  wind,  see 
its  amazing  effects^  and  hear  the  sound  of 
it,  cannot  tell  whence  it  cometh,  and  whi- 
ther it  goeth  :  much  less  could  you  describe 
it  to  the  satisfaction  of  one^  who  never 
heard  or  felt  it  himself.  Many  earthhj 
things  cannot  be  conceived  by  earthly  me^*. 

*  Eph.  V.  Z2. 
K 


110         SPIUITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

The  blind,  for  example,  can  never  conceive 
the  difference  of  colours;  Svhat  wonder  then 
if  natural  men  do  not  understand  us,  when 
we  tell  them  oi  heavenly  things  ? 

Nevertheless,  I  would  in  general  observe, 
that  the  manner^  in  which  the  manifesta- 
tion of  the  Son  of  God  is  vouchsafed,  is 
not  the  same  in  all  persons,  nor  in  the  same 
person  at  all  times.  The  wind  bloweth 
where  it  listeth,  much  more  he  spirit  of  the 
living  God.  His  thoughts iri  not  as  our 
thoughts :  he  dispensethhis'^l  essings,  not  as 
we  expect  them,  but  as  it  pleases  him.  Most 
commonly,  however,  the  sinner,  driven  out 
jof  all  his  refuge  of  lies,  feels  an  aching  void 
in  his  soul.  Unable  to  satisfy  himself  any 
'longer,  with  the  husks  of  empty  vanity,  dry 
morality,  and  speculative  Christianity;  and 
tried  with  the  hc^t  form  of  godliness  which 
is  not  attended  with  the  power  of  it,  he  is 
brought  to  a  spiritual  famine,  and  hungers 
after  heavenly  food.  Convinced  of  unbelief, 
he  feels  the  want  of  the  faith  of  God's  ope- 
ration. He  sees,  that  nothing  short  of  an 
immediate  display  of  the  Lord's  arm  can 
bring  his  soul  into  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
fill  it  with  righteousness,  peace  and  joy  in 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Sometimes,  encouraged 
by  lively  hojjes,  he  struggles  into  liberty  of 
heart,  and  prays  with  grounin^s,  which  can- 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  HI 

not  be  uttered  :  at  other  times,  almost  sink- 
ing- unaer  a  burden  of  guilty  fear,  or  stu- 
pid unbelief,  he  is  violently  tempted  to, 
throw  away  his  hope,  and  go  back  to  Kgypt ; 
but  an  invisible  hand  supports  him,  and, 
far  from  yielding  to  the  base  suggestions,  hc; 
resumes  courage,  and  deterniincs  to  follow 
on  to  know  the  Lord,  or  to  die  seeking 
him.  Thus  he  continues  wandering  up  and 
down  in  a  spiriiual  wilderness,  until  the 
Lord  gives  him  the  rest  of  iaiih,  the  sub- 
stance of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of 
things  not  seen. 

This  evidence  comes  various  ways. 
Sometimes  the  spiritual  eye  is  first  opened, 
and  chiefly,  though  not  only,  wrought  upon. 
Then  the  believer,  in  a  divine,  transform- 
ing light,  discovers  God  in  the  man  Christ, 
perceives  unspeakable  glories  in  his  despis- 
ed person,  and  admires  infinite  wisdom, 
power,  justice  and  mercy  in  the  blood  of  the 
cross.  He  reads  the  scriptures  with  neiv 
eyes.  The  mysterious  book  is  unsealed^  and 
every  where  testifies  of  him  whom  his  soul 
loves.  lie  views  experimentally^  as  well  as 
doctrinally  the  suitableness  of  the  Redeem- 
er's offices,  the  firmness  of  his  promises,  the 
sufficiency  of  his  righteousness,  the  preci- 
ousness  of  his  atonement,  and  the  complete- 
ness of  his  salvation.    He  sees,  and  fe»els  his 


112  SPIRITUAL  MANlt'ESTATiON. 

interest  in  all.  Thus  he  beholds,  believes^ 
wonders,  and  adores.  Sight  being  the  no- 
blest sense,  this  sort  of  manifestation  is  ge- 
nerally the  brightest. 

Perhaps  his  spirtual  ear  is  first  opened, 
and  that  voice,  which  raises,  the  dead^  "  Go 
in  peace,  thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee,"  passes 
with  power  through  his  waiting  soul.  He 
knows,  by  the  gracious  effect,  it  is  the  voice 
of  him,  who  said  once, "  Let  there  be  light, 
and  there  was  light."  He  is  sensible  of  a 
new  creation,  and  can  say,  by  the  testimony 
of  God's  Spirit,  bearing  witness  with  his 
spirit,—- This  is  my  beloved's  voice ;  he  is 
mine,  and  1  am  his.  I  have  redemption, 
through  his  blood,  even  the  forgiveness  of 
my  sins :  and  having  much  forgiven,  he 
loves  much,  and  obeys  in  propJbrtion. 

Frequently  also  Christ  manifests  himself^ 
first  and  chiefly  to  the  spiritual  feeling.  He 
takes  the  burden  of  guilt,  dejection,  and  sin, 
from  the  heavy-laden  soul;  and,  in  the 
room  of  it,  imparts  a  strong  sense  of  liber- 
ty, peace,  love,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 
The  ransomed  sinner,  enabled  to  overcome 
racking  doubts  or  dull  insensibility,  believes 
now  with  the  heart  unto  righteousness,  and 
makes  confession  with  the  mouth  vmto  sal- 
vation. Surely,  says  he,  In  the  Lord,  I 
have  righteousness  and  strength.     This  is 


SrmiTUAL  MANIFESTATION.  113 

the  finger  of  God.  This  day  is  salvation 
come  to  my  souL  None  but  Jesus  can  do 
this  for  me.  The  Lord  he  is  God ;  he  is 
my  Lord  and  my  God.  This  manifestation 
is  generally  the  lowest,  as  being  made  to  a 
lower  sense  ;  therefore  great  care  ought  to 
be  taken,  not  to  confound  it  with  the  strong 
drawings  of  the  father,  on  which  it  borders. 
Some  babes  in  Christ,  who,  like  young. 
Samuel,  have  not  yet  their  senses  properly, 
exercised  to  know  the  things  freely  given  to 
them  of  God,  are  often  made  uneasy  on 
this  very  account.  Nor  can  they  be  fully 
satisfied,  until  they  find  the  effects  of  this 
manifestation  are  lasting,  or  they  dbtain 
clearer  ones  by  means  of  the  nobler  senses, 
the  sight  or  hearing  of  the  heart. 

II L  Though  I  contend  only  for  those  dis- 
coveries o£  Christ,  which  are  made  by  the 
internal  senses,  because  such  only  are  pro- 
mised to  all ;  yet  I  cannot  without  contra- 
dicting scripture,  deny,  that  the  external 
senses  have  been  wrought  upon  in  some 
manifestations.  "When  Abraham  saw  his 
Saviour's  day,  he  was,  it  seems,  allowed  to 
wash  his  feet  with  water,*  as  afterwards 
the  penitent  harlot  did  with  her  tears.  And 
Saul,  in  his  way  to  Damascus,  saw  Jesus's 
glory,  and  heard  his  voice  both  externally 
*  Gen.  xviii.  3. 
K  2 


il4        SPIRITUAL  IMANIfESTATION. 

4nd  iatefnally,  for  they,  "that  journeyed 
with  him,  saw  the  light,  and  heard  a  voice," 
though  they  could  not  distinguish  the  words 
which  were  spoken. 

Sometimes  also  manifestations,  though 
trterely  internal,  have  appeared  external  to 
those,  who  were  favoured  with  them. 
When  the  Lord  called  Samuel,  in  Shiloh, 
the  pious  youth  supposed  the  call  was  out- 
ward, and  ran  to  Eli,  saying,  Thou  calledst 
irte :  but  it  seems  the  voice  had  struck  his 
spiritual  ear  only,  otherwise  the  high  priest, 
who  was  within  hearing,  would  have  heard 
it,  as  well  as  the  young  prophet.  And 
though  Stephen  stedfastly  looked  up  to 
heaven,  as  if  he  really  saw  Christ  there  with 
his  bodily  eyes,  it  is  plain  he  discovered 
him  only  with  those  of  his  faith,  for  the 
/'dp/*  of  the  house  where  the  court  was  held, 
bounded  his  outward  sight ;  and  had  Christ 
Appeared  in  the  room,  so  as  to  be  visible  to 
common  eyes,  the  council  of  the  Jews 
would  have  seen  him,  as  well  as  the  pious 
prisoner  at  the  bar. 

Hence  we  learn— 1st,  That  the  knowl- 
edge of  spiritual  things  received  by  spiritual 
sense,  is  as  clear  as  the  knowledge  of  natu- 
ral things,  obtained  by  bodily  sense.  2dly, 
'Hiat  it  is  sometimes  possible  to  be  doubt- 
ful, whether  the  outward  eye  or  ear  is  not 
concerned  in  particular  revelations ;   since 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION,  115 

this  was  not  only  the  case  of  Samuel,  but  of 
St.  Paul  himself,  who  could  not  tell  whether 
the  unspeakable  words,  he  heard  in  paradise, 
struck  his  bodily  ears,  or  only  those  of  hfs 
soul.*  3dly,  That  no  stress  is  to  be  laid 
upon  the  external  circumstances,  which 
have  sometimes  accompanied  the  revelation 
of  Christ.  If  aged  Simeon  had  been  as 
blind  as  old  Isaac,  and  as  much  disabled 
from  taking  the  child  Jesus  in  his  arms  as 
the  paralytic,  the  internal  revelation  he  had 
of  Christ  could  have  made  him  say  with 
the  same  assurance,  now  let  thy  servant 
depart  in  peace,  for  my  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation.  If  the  Aj^ostle  had  not  been 
struck  to  the  ground,  and  his  eyes  dazzled 
by  outward  light,  his  conversion  would  not 
have  been  less  real,  provided  he  had  been 
inwardly  humbled  and  enlightened.  And, 
if  Thomas,  waving  the  carnal  demonstra- 
tion he  insisted  upon,  had  experienced  only 
in  his  inrfer  man,  that  Christ  is  the  resur- 
rection and  the  life,  he  could  have  confessed 
him,  with  as  great  a  consciousness  he  was  not 
mistaken,  as  when  he  cried  out.  My  Lord, 
and  my  God !  I  am.  Sir,  Yours,  &c. 

*  Let  the  reader,  see  a  strong-  parallel  case  in  the 
remarkable  conversion  of  Col.  Gardner,  '[vide  bis  life.  3 

Every  man  who  disbelieves  the  power  of  God  to 
"  chimge*'  the  heart,  should  read  that  book.  He  be- 
came emplutically  a  "renewed"  man  ! 


LETTER  III. 


Why  the  Lord^manifests  himself  to  the  children  of 
men. 

WHY  the  Lord  manifests  himself  to 
the  children  of  men  is  an  important  ques- 
tion, which  1  now  come  to  consider.  It  is 
not,  we  may  easily  think,  for  the  gratifica- 
tion of  their  curiosity,  but  for  purposes 
worthy  of  his  wisdom  :  and  whet  these  are, 
we  shall  soon  learn,  if  we  reduce  divine 
manifestations  to  three  general  classes,  ex- 
traordinarify  ordinary^  and  mixed  ones  ; 
and  then  consider  the  design  and  use  of 
each,  as  it  may  be  collected  from  scripture, 

I.  To  begin  v/ith  manifestations  of  the 
Extraordinary  kind :  they  are  such  as  are 
either  merely  external  or  vouchsafed  to  a 
few  only  on  particular  occasions,  and  are  by 
no  means  essential  to  salvation. 

1.  Some  of  these  are  calculated  to  rouse 
the  thoughtless  into  consideration.  Of  this 
kind  was  the  manifestation  some  were 
favoured  with,  a  little  before  our  Lord's 
passion.  "  As  he  prayed,  there  came  a 
voice  from  heaven,  saying,  I  have  glorified 


SPIRITUAL  ^L\XIFESTATION.  1 1 7 

my  name,  and  will  glorify  it  again.  The 
people,  that  stood  by,  and  heard  it,  said,  it 
thundered  ;"  they  looked  upon  the  extraor- 
ordinary  call  as  something  common  and 
natural,  "  Others  said,  An  angel  spake  to 
him.  But  Jesus  said,  this  voice  came  not 
because  of  me,  but  for  your  sakes." 

2.  Others  are  intended  as  a  last  warning 
to  notorious  sinners.  Of  this  nature  was 
the  terrifying  sight  Nebuchadnezzar  had, 
in  his  second  dream  of  "  a  Watcher  and 
Holy  One  coming  down  from  heaven,  and 
crying  aloud,  cut  down  the  tree."  And 
that  of  the  mysterious  hand,  which  wrote 
Belshazzar's  doom  on  the  wall,  while  he 
profaned  the  sacred  vessels  in  his  night 
revels. 

3.  Some  are  designed  for  the  protection 
of  God's  people,  and  the  destruction  or 
humiliation  of  their  proud  enemies.  As 
when  the  "  Lord  looked  to  the  Eg\-ptians, 
through  the  pillar  of  fire,  and  troubled  their 
host :"  When  "he  cast  down  great  stones 
from  heaven"  upon  the  armies  of  the  five 
kings,  who  fought  against  Israel ;  Or  when 
he  manifested  his  presence  in  Nebuchad- 
nezzar's furnace,  to  quench  the  violence  of 
the  flame,  preserve  the  three  confessors, 
and  convince  the  raging  tyrant,  that  God's 
kingdom  ruleth  over  all. 


its         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

4.  The  design  of  others  is  to  encourage 
the  children  of  God  in  dangerous  enter- 
prises, or  direct  them  in  important  steps. 
Of  this  kind  was  that  to  Joshua,  before  he 
began  the  conquest  of  Canaan ;  and  that  to 
St.  Paul,  when  the  Lord  stood  by  him  in 
the  prison,  and  informed  him  he  must  bear 
witness  to  him  also  at  Rome. 

5.  Some  are  calculated  to  appoint  some 
persons  to  uncommon  services  and  trials, 
©r  to  the  prophetic  and  ministerial  offices. 
As  that  in  which  Noah  was  commissioned 
to  build  the  ark,  Abraham  to  offer  up  Isaac, 
Moses  to  deliver  Israel,  Nathan  to  reprove 
David,  Balaam  to  bless  Israel,  and  Jere- 
miah to  preach  to  the  Jews. 

6.  Others  again  are  designed  to  answer 
providential  ends  for  the  deliverance  of  the 
people  of  God,  as  those  of  Gideon ;  or 
spiritual  ends  of  reproof,  instruction,  and 
consolation  to  the  church  throughout  all 
ages,  as  most  of  the  revelations  vouchsafed 
to  the  prophets,  and  to  St.  John. 

II.  The  manifestations  essential  either 
to  the  conversion  of  sinners,  or  edification 
of  saints,  and  which  the  word  of  God,  and 
the  experiences  of  christians  show  to  be 
common  to  all  believers,  in  all  ages  of  the 
church,  are  of  the  Ordinary  kind,  and  their 
use  or  design  is, 

1.  To  make   the   word  spirit  and  life, 


SriRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.         119 

'^  quick  and  powerful,  sharper  than  any 
two-edged  sword,  piercing  even  to  the  di- 
viding ris under  soul  and  spirit,"  that  the 
gospel  may  not  come  to  sinners  "  in  word 
only,  but  also  in  power,  and  in  the  Holy 
Ghost,  ancl  in  much  assurance." 

2.  To  ease  an  anguished  conscience,  and 
impart  the  peace  of  God  to  a  troubled 
mind  :  as  in  the  case  of  broken-hearted 
David,  mourning  Hezekiah,  weeping  Pe- 
ter, and  Paul  agonizing  in  prayer. 

3.  To  reveal  Christ  to  us,  and  in  us,  so 
as  to  make  us  savingly  belieVe,  and  know, 
in  whom  we  have  believed,  according  to 
the  experiences  of  Peter,  Lydia,  Cornelius, 
and  ever}'  living  member  of  Christ. 

4.  To  open  a  blessed  intercourse,  and 
keep  up  a  delightful  communion  with 
Christ ;  as  appears  from  the  experiences  of 
believers  illustrated  in  the  Canticles. 

5.  To  silence  the  remains  of  self-righte- 
ousness, and  deepen  the  humiliation  of  our 
souls  ;  as  in  the  case  of  Job.  I'o  make  us 
grow  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  oiir 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  To  bruise  satan  under 
our  feet,  yea,  to  bruise  the  serpent's  head 
in  our  hearts,  and  seal  the  exceeding  great 
and  precious  promises  given  to  us,  that  we 
might  be  partakers  of  the  divine  nature, 
and  continue  immoveable,  always  abound- 


120         SPIRITUAL  MAmFESTA-mOi^f. 

ing  in  the  work  of  faith,  the  patience  of 
hope,  and  the  labour  of  love.  In  a  word, 
to  '^  strengthen  us  with  might,  by  God's 
Spirit  in  the  inner  man,  that  Christ  may 
dwell  in  our  hearts  by  faith,  and  we  may 
be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God." 

6.  To  prepare  us  for  great  trials,  support 
us  under  them,  and  comfort  us  after  them. 
This  was  our  Lord's  experience  before  his 
temptation,  after  he  had  overcome  the  temp- 
ter, and  when  he  was  in  the  height  of  his 
agony.  This  was  also  the  case  of  David, 
St.  Paul,  and  of  all  the  apostles,  when  they 
had  been  scourged  for  the  name  of  Jesus  ; 
and  it  is  still  the  case  of  all  true  and  deep 
mourners  in  Sion. 

7.  And  lastly,  to  make  us  depart  in  peace, 
as  Simeon ;  or  die  in  perfect  love  with  our 
enemies,  and  the  full  triumph  of  faith,  as 
St.  Stephen.  All  who  live  and  die  in  the 
Lord  partake,  more  or  less,  of  these  ordi- 
nary displays  of  hi&powerful  presence,  and 
I  desire  you.  Sir,  to  remember,  that  it  is 
chiefly,  if  not  only,  in  support  of  these  im- 
portant manifestations  I  take  up  the  pen. 

III.  The  third  class  of  manifestations  is 
that  of  Mixed  Ones;  so  called,  because  they 
are  partly  extraordinary  and  partly  ordina- 
ry. Some  are  ordinary  in  their  design,  and 
extraordinary  ih  their  circumstances.     Oi 


SPIRITUAL  MAXIFESTATIOX.  121 

this  sort  was  the  manifestation  to  the  apos- 
tles, Acts  iv.  31.  The  design  of  it  was 
merely  common,  i.  e.  to  comfort  them  un- 
der contempt,  and  encourage  them  to  do 
good  and  suffer  evil ;  but  the  shaking  the 
place  where  they  xuere  assembled  was  an 
uncommon  circumstance.  The  same  thing 
may  be  said  of  the  descent  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  on  the  120  who  were  assembled 
in  the  upper  room  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
and  some  time  after  upon  Cornelius  and 
his  soldiers.  That  they  should  be  baptized 
^vith  the  Holy  Ghost  and  spiritual  fire  was 
not  extraordinary,  since  it  is  the  common 
blessing,  w-hich  can  a.lone  make  a  man  a 
Christian,  or  confirm  him  in  the  faith  :  l)ut 
that  the  sound  of  a  rushing  wind  should  be 
heard,  and  luminous  appearances  seen  rest- 
ing upon  them,  and  that  they  should  have 
been  enabled  to  speak  the  wonderful  works 
of  God  in  other  tongues,  were  uncommon 
circumstances  attending  their  spiritual  bap- 
tism. 

Some  maciifestations  are  mixed,  both  as 
to  their  design  and  circumstances.  That 
the  iniquity  of  Isaiah  should  be  put  away, 
and  St.  Paul  converted,  were  not  uncom- 
mon things  ;  thev  are  the  common  effects 
of  ordinary  manifestations :  But  that  the 
prophet  should  be  commissioned  to  preach 

L 


1,22         SPJfTRITUAL  MANIFESTATIOX. 

tp  the  Jews,  and  the  apostle  to  open  th^ 
eyes  of  the  Gentiles  were  extraordinary 
circumstances,  as  also,  a  flying  cherub  ap- 
pearing to  the  one,  and  a  light  brighter 
than  the  sun,  blinding  the  other. 

For  want  of  distinguishing  properly  be- 
tween v/hat  is  ordinary  and  extraordinary 
in  mixed  manifestations,  persons  who  are 
not  possessed  of  a  clear  head^  or  what  is 
worse,  of  an  honest  hearty  conclude,  that 
none  but  enthusiasts  speak  now  of  divine 
manifestations.  If  they  hear  it  affirmed, 
they  must  be  converted  as  well  as  St.  Paul, 
they  pertly  ask,  Whether  they  are  Jews, 
and  whether  they  must  be  struck  to  the 
earth  by  a  voice  from  heaven  ?  They  wil- 
fully  forget,  that  our  Lord  spake  to  his 
hearers  as  sinfid  men,  and  not  as  bigoted 
Jews,  when  he  said,  "  Except  ye  be  con- 
verted, ye  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  They  obstinately  refuse  to  see, 
that  the  circumstances  of  the  apostle's  fall- 
ing to  the  ground,  &c.  were  not  essential  to 
his  conversion,  and  had  no  other  use, 
than  to  make  his  call  more  remarkable  for 
the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  and  comfort 
of  the  Christians.  When  the  same  prejudi- 
ced persons  are  told,  that  they  must  be 
born  of  the  Spirit,,  and  receive  the  Holy 
Ghost,  as  well  as  Cornelius  and  his  ser- 
^-ants^  overlooking  the  ordinary  baptism  of 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  123 

the  Spirit,  they  pitch  upon  the  extraordina- 
ry circumstance  of  the  gift  of  tongues,  im- 
parted for  a  season,  to  remove  the  prejudi- 
ces of  the  Jews,  and  to  draw  the  attention 
of  the  Gentiles;  and  think,  with  a  sneer, 
and  a  charge  of  enthusiasm,  to  overturn  the 
apostolic  saying,  "  If  any  man  hath  not  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none  of  his.'^  Be  not 
deceived^  Sir^  by  these  persons.  Acknow- 
ledge that,  so  sure  as  you  want  the  regene- 
rating knowledge  of  Christ,  you  want  the 
manifestation  of  his  Spirit,  without  which 
he  can  never  be  known  savingly.  To  re- 
turn, 

1'hough  I  contend  only  for  the  ordinary 
manifestations  of  Christ,  I  am  far  from 
supposing,  that  all  extraordinary  or  mixed 
manifestations  have  ceased.  Such  a  con- 
cession would  favour  too  much  of  the  spirit 
of  infidelity^  which  prevails  in  the  church. 
They  are  more  frequent  than  many  ima- 
gine. To  instance  in  one  particular  how  far 
I  am  from  acquiescing  with  that  infidel 
spirit,  I  am  so  attached  to  that  old  book 
the  Bible,  as  to  say  of  many^  who  pass  for 
ministers  of  Christ,  Woe  to  the  foolish  pro- 
phets, that  follow  their  own  spirit  and  have 
seen  nothing:  that  say,  The  Lord  saj^s,  and 
the  Lord  hath  not  sent  them.  I  think  the 
desire  of  being  stiled  Reverend,  or  Right 
Reverend,  and  the  prospect  of  a  living  or  a 


124  SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION^ 

mitre,  are  very  improper  motives  for  as- 
suming the  sacred  character.  And  I  am 
such  an  enthusiast  as  to  believe  our  church 
in  the  right,  for  requiring  that  all  her  mini- 
sters should  not  only  be  called^  but  even 
MOVED  by  the  Holy  (Ihostto  take  the  office 
of  Ambassador  for  Christ  upon  themselves. "^ 
ly.  Having  mentioned  the  design  and  use 
of  ordinary  manifestations,  i^  may  not  be 
improper,  to  touch  upon  the  abuse  of  them. 
Their  genuine  tendency  is  to  humble- to  the 
dust.  The  language  of  those,  who  are  fa- 
voured with  them,  is, — Will  God  indeed 
dwell  on  the  earth !  Lord  what  is  man,  that 
thou  art  mindful  of  him,  and  the  son  of 

*  Ordination.* 
*  The  "  ordination"  requires  that  the  carididate 
should  have  been  "  movecT^  by  the  Holy  Ghost  :  yet 
such  is  sometimes  the  spiritual  ignorance  of  some, 
that  they  have  regarded  that  moving  as  either  a  dead 
letter,  or  at  most  an  unimportant  metaphor.  All  such 
are  doubtless  "blind  leaders,  of  the  blind."  Many 
it  is  feared  have  gone  into  orders  thus  unqualified 
and  of  course  as  ignorant  of  the  neio  birth  as  was 
Nicodemus.  But  thank  fiod,  some  of  them  have liv- 
ed to  havt  that  "change*^  pass  upon  themselves, and 
to  bear  their  testimony  to  \YiQ.\v  former  "unrenewed" 
state.  This  was  he  case  with  tlic  celebrated  Wes- 
ley, with  Ills  iVitnd  Dr.  Coke,  with  Creighton,  with 
Grimshaw,  wirh  W^alker,  wilh  Iloe,  with  Cowper, 
the  brotlier  of  the  poet  :  and  even  tlit  poet  himself, 
owed  his  long  disconsolate  spirit  tb  the  want  of  that 
change  of  hetirt. 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFEST ATIOK.       125 

man,  that  thou  visitest  him  !  Now,  that  I 
see  thee,  I  abhor  myself.  I  am  not  worthy 
of  the  least  of  thy  mercies.  I  am  dust  and 
ashes. — But  as  there  is  nothing,  which  the 
heart  of  man  cannot  be  tempted  to  corrupt 
and  pervert,  so  as  soon  as  the  power  attend- 
ing the  manifestation  is  a  little  abated,  Sa- 
tan begins  to  shoot  his  fiery  darts  of  spirit- 
ual pride,  You  are  a  peculiar  favourite  of 
heaven,  whispers  that  old  serpent,  few  are 
so  highly  blessed.*     All  your  enemies  are 

*  It  is  obvious -front  what  is  here  said,  that  there 
is  also  a  danger  throug'li  spiritual  pride,  of  men 
fancying-  themselves  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to 
teach  others  when  they  are  most  moved  by  self  con- 
ceit. This  is  a  *'  temptation  :"  for  satan  can  trans- 
form himself  into  an  angel  of  lig-ht.  Bvit  this  error, 
does  no  more  invalidate  real  inspiration,  than  base 
coin  corrupts  the  purity  of  the  genuine.  Such 
preachers,  however  who  like  Ahimaaz,  run  loithout 
their  errand,  are  soon  apt  to  faint  and  to  perceive 
their  barrenness  and  retire.  But  the  really  moved 
say  *'  woe  ^is  me,  if  I  preach  not  the  gospel"  in 
season  and  out  of  season."  Such  "  continue'*  and 
"  give  themselves  lokolly  to  reading,  exhortation, 
and  doctrine." 

St.  Paul  has  summed  up  the  requisities  of  a 
preacher  in  his  advice  to  Timothy.  Such  an  one 
must  "  desire"  the  office  as  "  not  greedy  of  filthy 
lucre,"  but,  because  "  he  desireth  a  good  work"  or 
v.'ishes  above  all  things,  to  see  tlie  work  of  the  Lord 
abound  and  prosper.  He  must  therefore  be  *' vigilant** 
in  all  his  '^* good  work \*  and  lastly  "he must  be  apt 
to  teach."    If  he  has  not  this  aptness  in  teaching 

a  2 


126        SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

scattered;  you  need  not  be  so  watchful  in 
prayer,  and  so  strict  in  self-denial ;  you  shall 
never  fall.  If  the  believer  is  not  upon  his 
guard,  and  repels  not  these  fiery  darts  with 
his  shield,  as  fast  as  the  enemy  throws  them, 
he  is  soon  wounded,  and  pride  kindles  a- 
gain  upon  him. 

St.  Paul  himself  was  in  danger  from  this 
quarter.  "  There  was  given  him  a  thorn  in 
the  flesh,  a  messenger  of  Satan  to  buffet  him, 
lest  he  should  be  exalted  above  measure, 
through  the  abundance  of  the  revelations." 
Aaron  and  Miriam,  fell  into  this  snare,  when 
they  spake  against  Closes,  saying,  "  Hath 
the  Lord  indeed  spoken  only  by  Moses  ? 

either  by  natural,  acquired,  or  inspired  abilities,  he 
amnot  he  dh'hh'ly  "moved"  to  the  office:  For  "no 
man  goeth  at  his  own  charg-e." 

For  wan  t  of  dvlv  considering*  wliat  an  aptness  to  teach 
does  imply,  there  are  probably  also  many  humble  and 
g-ood  souls,  who  mistake  their  vtoving^  because  they 
/t^eZthe  "desire''*  to  preach  Christ  in  an  ardent  de- 
gree, and  yet  Aar<?  not  the  aptness  which  is  eqxudly 
required.  Such  do  not  sufficiently  consider,  that 
the  "desire*^  to  win  souls  to  Clirist  is  wot  special  ov 
peculiar  to  them,  but  is  an  emotion  common  to  ever}'' 
regenerate  soul,  and  is  most  especially  felt  in  those 
who  are  most  rcceiitly  and  most  poiverfaUy,  brought 
into  the  light  of  the  Gospel. 

For  further  notice  of  the  office,  and  call  to  the 
ministry,  see  Fietcher's  masterly  "  i*or trait  of  St 
l»uul-" 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.        127 

Ilath  not  he  spoken  by  us  also  ?"  David 
likewise  acknowledges  his  error  in  this 
respect :  "  In  my  prosperity,  I  said,  I  shall 
never  be  moved,  thou,  Lord,  of  thy  good- 
ness hast  made  my  hill  so  strong;"  but  my 
heart  was  lifted  up,  and  my  confidence  part- 
ly carnal,  therefore, "  thou  didst  turn  thy 
face  from  me,  and  I  was  troubled."  The 
way  to  avoid  the  danger  is  to  foresee  it ;  to 
look  much  to  the  lowly  Jesus,  and  upon  the 
first  approach  of  a  temptation  to  pride,  to 
give,  with  double  diligence,  all  the  glory 
to  him  that  graciously  bestowed  all,  and  to 
take,  with  doublfi  care,  all  the  shame  of  our 
sins  to  ourselves.  St.  PaulV,  direction  in  this 
case  is  excellent :  '*  Because  of  unbelief 
some  were  broken  off,  and  thou  standest  by 
faith.    Be  not  high  minded,  but  fear." 

Another  genuine  effect  of  divine  manifts- 
tations  is  an  increase  of  confidence  in  the 
Lord,  and  of  activity  in  his  service.  What 
holy  boldness  filled  the  souls  of  those  wor- 
thies, who,  through  faith,  wrought  righte- 
ousness, and  turned  to  flight  the  armies  of 
the  aliens  ?  How  did  the  love  of  Christ  con- 
strain the  disciples  to  speak  and  act  for 
God  after  the  day  of  Pentecost  ?  Nothing 
could  exceed  their  fortitude  and  diligence. 
Nevertheless,  if  the  tem))tation  to  pride  is 
yielded  to,  the  Comforter  is  gi'ieved,  and 


12^       SPIRITUAL  MiVNlFESTATIOX. 

carnal  security,  indolence  of  spirit,  and  in- 
dulgence of  the  flesh,  insensibly  prevail. 
The  deluded  professor,  though  shorn  of  his 
strength,  like  Sampson,  fancies  himself  the 
same.  Soul,  says  he,  thou  hast  goods  laid 
up  for  many  5  ea'-s,  even  for  everj  though 
the  Lord  manifests  liimself  to  thee  no  more, 
be  neither  uneasy  nor  afraid;  he  changes 
not.  Sometimes  the  delusion  grows  to  that 
height,  that  the  farther  he  goes  from  the 
kingdom  of  God  the  stronger  he  imagines 
his  faith.  He  even  speaks  contemptuously 
of  that  kingdom.  He  calls  righteousness, 
peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  jGhost,  a  frame,  a 
sensli>lc  feeling,  a  low  dispensation,  beyond 
which  he  has  happily  got.  He  thanks  God 
he  can  now  rest  upon  the  bare  word,  with- 
out an  application  of  it  to  his  heart  j  that  is 
to  say,  he  can  be  fully  satisfied  with  the 
letter  without  the  Spirit,  he  can  feed  upon 
the  empty  husks  of  notions,  and  opinions, 
as  if  they  were  power  and  life. 

The  end  of  this  dreadful  mistake  is  gen- 
erally a  relapse  into  gross  sin ;  witness  the 
falls  of  David  and  Solomon  ;  or  what  is  not 
much  better,  a  settling  in  a  form,  without 
the  power  of  godliness,  as  the  Laodiceans 
of  old,  and  too  many  now,  who  have  a 
name  to  live  and  are  dead.  The  only  way 
tb  av.oid  this  precipice,  is  to  follow  the  light 


SPIRITCAL  MANIFESTATION.        129 

of  the  'first  manifestation,  and  look  daily  for 
new  visits  from  Christ,  till  he  makes  his 
abode  with  us,  and  we  walk  in  the  light,  as 
he  is  in  the  light.  A  manifestation  of  the 
Spirit  last  year  will  no  more  support  a  soul 
this  year^  than  air  breathed  yesterday  will 
nourish  the  flame  of  life  to  day.  The  sun 
which  warmed  us  last  week,  must  shine  a- 
gain  this  week.  Old  light  is  dead  light. 
A  notion  of  old  warmth  is  a  very  cold  no- 
tion. We  must  have  fresh  food  daily,  and 
though  we  need  not  a  new  Christ,  we  need, 
perpetually,  new  displays  of  his  eternal  love 
and  power.  The  Lord  taught  us  this  im- 
portant lesson,  by  making  the  manna  he 
^i\.\t  Israel  in  the  wilderness  to  disappear 
every  day,  and  causing  that  which  was  not 
gathered  afresh,  to  breed  worms  and  stink. 
Nevertheless,  as  the  mysterious  food  kept 
sweet  in  the  golden  pot  in  the  ark,  so  does 
the  heavenly  power  in  Christ,  to  whom  eve- 
ry true  Israelite  will  come  daily  for  new 
supplies  of  hidden  manna ;  for  fresh  mani- 
festations of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Thousands  by 
not  considering  thi*,  seek  the  living  among 
the  dead,  fancying  that  a  living  Saviour  is 
to  be  found  iirdead  experiences,  and  that  all 
is  well  though  they  live  after  the  flesh,  and 
are  perhaps,  led  captive  by  the  devil  at  his 
will.  But  when  their  souls  awake  out  of  this 


130        SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

dangerous  dream,  they  will  be  sensible  of 
their  mistake,  and  frankly  acknowledge, 
"  God  IS  not  the  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the 
living  j'Vand  that,  '*  if  after  they  have  escap- 
ed the  pGliatioins  of  the  worl^.,  through  the 
knov/ledge  of  the  Lord  and  SaCX'ipur  Jesus 
Christ,  they  a^'e  again  entangled  therein, 
and  overcome^  the  latter  end  is  worse  with 
them  than  the  beginning." 

Leaving  these  lukewarm,  formal,  Laodi- 
cean professors  to  the  mercy  of  God,  Isub- 
acribf  myself,  Sir,  Yours,  &c. 


LETTER  IV. 

Our  Lord  suits  the  manifestations  of  himself  to  the 
various  states  of  the  church,  and  considers  vis  as 
rational  creatures,  in  a  state  of  probation. 

SIR, 
V.  THAT  some  persons  are  blessed 
with  clearer,  stronger,  or  earlier  manifesta- 
tions than  others,  is  undeniable ;  and  why 
it  is  so,  is  one  of  the  n.iysteries  of  God's 
kingdom,  that  shall  not  be  explained  until 
the  day  of  judgment.  In  tLt  mean  time, 
the  following  reflections  may  possibly  cast 
some  light  on  that  dark  subject,  and  help 
us  to  say,  He  does  all  things  well* 


SPlRITUtU.  MANIFEST ATIOlsr.        131 

1.  Our  Lord  suits  the  manifestations  of 
himself  to  the  various  states  of  the  church. 
Under  the  Mosaic  dispensation,  which  con- 
sisted much  in  externals,  divine  manifesta- 
tions had,  generally,  some  external  circum- 
stances :  but  the  Christian  church,  being 
formed  upon  a  more  spiritual  plan,  is  fa- 
voured with  revelations  of  a  more  spiritual 
and  internal  nature. 

2.  The  Lord  considers  us  as  rational 
creatures,  in  a  state  of  probation.  "Were  he 
to  induljje  us  with  powerful,  incessant, 
overwhelming  discoveries  of  himself,  he 
would  rather  violently  force,  than  gently 
lead  us  to  repentance  and  obedience.  Eve- 
ry day  is  not  a  day  of  Pentecost.  Soon  after 
the  Son  of  God  had  seen  the  heavens  open, 
he  was  led  into  the  wilderness  to  be  tempted 
of  the  devil;  and  so  is  his  spouse  after 
hlm.=^  St.  Paul,  bv  observing,  that  he  was 
not  disobedient  to  che  heavenly  vision,  and 
that  he  kept  his  body  under,  lest  he  should 
become  a  cast- way,  intimates  his  bright 
manifestation  was  not  of  such  continuance 
and  force,  but  he  might  have  disobeyed,  as 
Jonah  did  in  a  similar  case.  Some  have,  in 
fact,  resisted  bright  manifestations  in  their 

*  Hos  ii.  14. 


132        SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

day:  witness  Cain,  Judas,  Balaam,  Saul, 
Nebuchadnezzar,  and  the  Israelites  who 
perished  in  the  wilderness ;  and  too  many 
backsliders  are  resisting  them  now.  So 
sure,  then,  as  there  is  a  time  of  trial  for 
faith,  hope,  and  patience,  there  is  also  an 
abatement  of  the  power,  which  attends  di- 
vine manifestations. 

3.  Our  wise  Redeemer  proportions  the 
means  to  the  end.  If  the  effect  of  a  mani- 
festation of  his  love  is  to  be  exceeding  great,, 
the  manifestation  must  be  exceeding  bright* 
Suppose  the  burden  of  guilt  and  hardness,, 
temptation,  and  sorrow,  under  which  one 
groans  is  ten  times  greater  than  that,  which 
oppresses  another,  it  is  plain  the  manifesta- 
tion, which  is  to  remove  the  tenfold  weight 
is  to  be  ten  times  stronger.  I'he  same  rule 
holds  also  with  regard  to  sufferings  and  la- 
bours. The  hotter  the  fight  of  afflictions 
God*s  children  are  to  go  through,  the  stron- 
ger and  the  brighter  also  is  the  celestial  ar- 
mour put  upon  them,  at  the  revelation  of 
the  Captain  of  their  salvation. 

4.  Neither  can  it  be  doubted,  but  that 
our  good  God,  in  fixing  the  degree  of  di- 
vine manifestations,  hath  a  peculiar  respect 
to  the  state  and  capacity  of  the  souls  to 
whom  he  discovers  himself.  The  deeper 
sinners  mourn  for  hina,  the  deeper  he  makes 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.        I33 

them  drink  of  the  cup  of  salvation  at  his 
appearing^  Blessed  are  they  that  greatly 
hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness  ;  their 
souls  are  thereby  greatly  enlarged  to  receive 
the  oil  of  gladness,  and  the  wine  of  the 
kingdom.  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit, 
those,  whose  souls  are  empty  as  the  vessels 
of  the  desolate  widow,  in  the  days  of  Eli- 
sha :  when  the  heavenly  Prophet  shall  visit 
them,  the  streams  of  his  fulness  shall  cer- 
tainly flow  according  to  the  degree  of  their 
emptiness. 

5.  A  skilful  physician  prescribes  weaker 
or  stronger  medicines,  according  to  the 
state  of  his  patients.  So  does  the  Physician 
of  souls ;  he  weighs,  if  I  may  so  speak, 
every  dram  of  the  heavenly  power  in  th^ 
scales  of  goodness  and  wisdom.  He  knows 
what  quantity  of  the  heavenly  cordial  our 
spirits  can  bear,  and  will  not,  without  the 
greatest  care,  put  the  strong  wine  of  his 
powerful  love  into  a  weak  vessel.  lie  sees, 
that  as  some  persons  can  stand,  for  a  time, 
the  sight  of  the  meridian  sun,  when  others 
are  hurt  by  the  first  appearance  of  a  taper, 
so  some  Christians  can  bear  the  strong 
beams  of  his  gracious  presence,  while  others 
are  almost  overpowered  by  his  fainter  rays, 

6.  If  some  live  and  die  without  any 
manifestations  of  the  Redeemer's  love  and 

M 


134  SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATIOJJ'. 

glory,  the  reasons  of  it  may  possibly  be 
tpund  in  the  abysses  of  his  justice  and 
goodness.  They  gi'ieve  and  quench  the 
Spirit,  that  convinces  the  world  of  sin ;  and 
it  is  very  fit  they  should  not  have  him  as  a 
Comforter,  whom  they  obstinately  reject  as 
a  reprover.  Add  to  this,  that  as  our  Lord 
foresees,  that  if  such  people  were  favouredl 
with  tokens  of  his  more  distinguishing  con* 
descension,  they  would  only  abuse  them,  as 
Cain  and  the  Pharisees  did,  he  puts  them 
not  to  the  trial,  nor  suffers  them  to  enhance 
their  guilt  by  trampling  richer  mercy  and 
love  under  foot :  so  that  this  seeming  seve- 
rity is,  in  fact,  real  benignity. 

7.  The  Lord  not  only  proportions  the  de- 
gree of  his  powerful  appearance  to  the 
weakness  of  Our  souls,  but  also  to  that  of 
6ur  bodies.  He  knoweth  whereof  we  are 
m^de,  and  remembers  that  we  are  but  flesh. 
If  the  natural  sun,  that  glorious  emblem  of 
our  Emmanuel,  was  to  approach  as  near 
our  earth,  and  shine  as  bright  aso  possible, 
the  insufferable  blaze  and  heat  would  in- 
stantly blind  and  consume  \is.  By  a  parity 
of"  reason,  w  as  our  bright  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness to  manifest  his  unclouded  glory,  of  to 
iippear  without  the  tempering  medium  of 
his  manhood,  no  flesh  could  support  the 
sight.    The  brain,  unable  to  bear  the  high 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  J  33 

operations  of  the  soul,  would  turn  ;  the 
heart  of  the  wicked,  swelled  with  intolera- 
ble pangs  of  fear,  and  that  of  the  righteous, 
dilated  by  overwhelming  transports  of  joy, 
would  instantly  burst.  Crod  therefore  says, 
"  No  man  can  see  my  face,"  without  some 
dimming  veil,  "  and  live."  Hence  arose 
likewise  the  grateful  exclamations  of  Ma- 
noah  and  others,  when  the  Lord  had  mani- 
fested himself  to  them  concealed  under  hu- 
man appearance,  We  have  seen  God,  and 
live  !  AVe  have  beheld  him  aijd  are  not  con- 
sumed ! 

8.  This  may,  perhaps,  help  us  to  account 
why  the  Lord  still  hides  his  face  from  some 
of  his  sincere  seekers.  They  sit  begging  by 
the  vray  side  of  his  ordinances,  and  yet  he 
does  not  pass  by,  so  as  to  restore  to  them 
their  spiritual  sight,  that  they  might  know 
him.  In  all  probability  he  designs  theni 
such  a  bright  manifestation,  as  they  are  not 
yet  able  to  bear.  When  their  hearts  are 
strengthened  for  the  heavenly  vision,  it 
shall  speak.  Let  them  only  wnit  for  it. 
Let  patience  have  its  perfect  work,  and  faith 
in  the  word  be  tried  to  the  uttermost;  and 
he  that  cometh,  will  come  and  will  not  tar- 
ry. He  will  bring  his  reward  with  him,  and 
a  moment  of  his  presence  will  make  them 
abundant  amends  for  the  \\ra.itii>g  of  an  age. 


136         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

Were  he  to  appear,  before  they  are  prepar- 
ed by  the  humiliation  of  repentance  and  the 
patience  of  hope,  they  would  be  in  the  case 
bf  those  carnal  Israelites,  who,  far  from  be- 
ing able  to  commune  with  God,  could  not 
so  much  as  speak  to  Moses,  when  he  came 
down  from  the  mount,  without  first  oblig- 
ing him  to  put  a  veil  over  his  shining  face, 
Peter,  James,  and  John  were,  it  seems, 
the  foremost  of  the  apostles  in  spiritual 
strength  and  boldness ;  nevertheless,  the 
manifestation  they  had  of  Christ  on  the 
mount  almost  overwhelmed  them.  Their 
body  sunk  under  the  weight  of  his  glory, 
and  when  they  came  out  of  their  sleep  or 
trance,  they  could  not  recover  themselves, 
"  they  knew  not  what  they  said."  This  had 
been  before  the  case  of  Daniel,  and  was 
once  more  that  of  St.  John.  The  comeli- 
ness of  the  man  greatly  beloved  was  turned 
to  corruption ;  he  retained  no  strength. 
And  the  beloved  Apostle,  when  he  saw  his 
Saviour  with  some  additional  beams  of 
glory,  fell  at  his  feet  as  dead.  St.  Paul  not 
only  lost  his  sight  on  such  an  occasion,  but 
was  near  losing  his  life,  being  unable  to 
take  any  refreshment  for  three  days  and 
three  nights.  And  it  is  also  generally  sup- 
posed, that  Moses  actually  died  under  the 
overpowering  display^  of  the  Redeemer's 


SPIRITUAL  MAXlFtS TATIOX,        I37 

love.  Hence  we  learn,  that  Gcxl's  way  and 
time  are  best,  and  that  we  are  to  leave  both 
to  his  gracious  wisdom ;  using  the  means, 
in  which  he  has  promised  to  manifest  him- 
self to  those  who  diligently  seek  him. 

YI.  What  those  means  are,  is  what  I 
come  in  the  last  place  to  consider.  The 
agent  or  author  of  every  divine  manifesta- 
tion is  the  eternal  God,  one  in  three,  and 
three  in  one.  The  Father  reveals  the  Son 
freely,  the  Son  freely  discovers  himself, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost  freely  testifies  of  him. 
Nevertheless,  the  Scriptures,  in  general 
attribute  this  wonder  of  grace  to  the  blessed 
Spirit.  "  No  man  can,"  experimentally 
say,  "  that  Jesus  is  the  Lord  but  by  the 
Holy  Ghost."  It  is  his  peculiar  office  to 
convince  the  world  of  righteousness,  by 
giving  us  to  know  savingly  the  Lord  our 
righteousness.  "  He  shall  glorify  me," 
says  Christ,  "  for  he  shall  take  of  mine, 
and  show'it  unto  you"  And  this  he  does, 
without  any  merit  of  ours,  in  the  means 
which  God  hath  appointed,  and  which  he 
enables  us  to  use  aright. 

These  means  are  both  outward  and  in- 
ward. The  outward  are  what  our  church 
calls  "  the  means  of  grace  ;"  particularly 
hearing  or  reading  the  word,  partaking  of 
the  sacraments,  and  praying  together  with 
M  2 


138         SPIRITUAL  MANIFEST ATIO^^ 

one  accord  for  the  manifestation  of  the 
Spirit,  as  the  primitive  Christians  did.* 
Thesis  means  are  to  be  used  with  the  great- 
est diligence,  but  not  to  be  trusted  to  ;  the 
only  proper  object  of  our  confidence  is  God, 
who  works  all  in  all.  It  was  not  Moses's 
ryd,  which  parted  the  red  sea,  but  that  Al- 
mighty arm,  which  once  divided  the  water 
from  the  water  without  a  rod.  Neverthe- 
less, as  Moses  was  not  to  throw  his  rod  away, 
under  pretence  of  trusting  in  God  alone, 
neither  was  he  to  rely  on  the  weak  instru- 
ment, as  if  the  divine  power  resided  in  it. 

Though  the  Lord  in  general  works  by 
means,  he  ties  himself  to  none,  and  some- 
tiittes  works  without  any.  The  same  spi- 
rit, which  fell  from  Cornelius,  while  Peter 
preached,  fell  upon  Peter  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost  without  any  preaching.  And  the 
same  Lord,  who  opened  Lydia's  heart  by 
the  ministry  of  St.  Paul,  opened  the  heart 
of  St.  Paul  by  the  sole  exertion  of  his  pow- 
er. We  hence  learn,  that  as  on  the  one 
hand,  we  ought  not  with  the  profane  and 
enthusiasts  to  tempt  the  Lord,  by  neglect- 
ing the  use  of  any  of  the  means  he  hath  ap- 
pointed ;  so  on  the  other  hand,  we  must 
beware  of  confining  God  to  particular 
Eieans,  times,  and  places,  as  the  bigotted 
*  Acts  ii.  1. 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.         139 

and  superstitious  do ;  remembering,  that 
when  we  are  cut  off  from  all  outward 
means,  it  is  our  privilege  to  wait  for  the 
immediate  display  of  God*s  arm,  in  the  use 
of  the  inward  means. 

Of  these  the  first  is  a  believing 'there  will 
be  a  performance  of  the  Lord's  promise, 
and  that  he  is  willing  and  able  to  manifest 
himself  to  us  as  he  does  not  to  the  world : 
this  is  the  very  root  of  prayer,  fervency, 
hope,  and  expectation.  AVithout  the  actings 
of  this  preparatory^  faith,  the  soul  droops, 
and  becomes  an  easy  prey  to  despondency, 
vanit}^,  or  sloth.  Where  this  talent  is  bu- 
ried, the  Xiord  seldom  works.  Believest 
thou,  that  I  am  able  to  do  this  for  thee  ?  is 
generally  the  first  question,  that  he  puts  to 
the  seeker's  heart.  If  it  is  answered  in  the 
negative,  he  can  do  no  great  miracle,  be- 
cause of  this  unbelief.  Nevertheless,  it 
must  be  acknowledged,  that  St.  Paul  was 
blessed  with  the  revelation  of  the  Son  of 
God,  without  any  previous  desire  or  ex- 
pectation of  it.  In  him,  and  others  was 
this  scripture  fulfilled,  "I  was  found  of 
them  that  sought  me  not,  I  was  manifested 
to  them  that  asked  not  after  me."*     But, 

*  In  confirmatioTi,  let  the  r</ader  read  the  wonder- 
l>il  providential  life  of  the  late  Rev.  John  Newton. 
A  more  interesting  life  of  lire  kind  is  not  to  Ue  foiind 


140         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

the  Lord  will  be  enquired  of  by  the  house 
of  Israel  to  do  this  ;  and  if  he  visits  any 
with  conviction,  as  he  did  St.  Paul,  it  is 
only  to  make  them  pray,  as  that  apostle  did, 
until  he  manifests  himself,  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  in  a  way  of  consolation  and  love. 

The  2d  inward  means  of  the  manifesta- 
tion of  Christ  is  resignation,  as  to  the  par- 
ticular manner,  time,  and  place  of  it. 
Through  patience,  as  well  as  faith  and 
prayer,  we  inherit  this  promised  blessing; 
Some,  according  to  their  carnal  wisdom 
and  forward  imagination,  mark  out  the  way 
in  which  salvation  is  to  come  to  their 
hearts ;  but  the  Lord,  generally,  disappoints 
those  unhumbled  seekers,  though,  as  in  the 
case  of  Gideon,  he  may  gratify  one  in  a 
thousand  .  for  believers  are  "  not  born  of 
the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man, 
but  of  God."  The  Jews  expected  the 
Messiah,  and  there  they  were  right:  but 
they  expected  him  in  their  own  fvay^  and 
there  they  stumbled  and  fell.  While  they 
looked  for  a  mighty  conqueror,  another 
Alexander,  to  make  them  grtat^  they  over- 
looked the  lowly  Prince  of  peace,  who  came 

in  any  language.  Its  incident  are  so  various  and 
striking,  as  to  be  capable  q{ pleasing  those  who  most 
love  adventures  and  romances. — lieatler,  do  not  fail 
to  read  it. 


SPDirrUAL  MANIFESTATION.         141, 

to  make  them  good ;  and,  at  last,  they  cru^ 
cified  him  as  a  base  impostor.  This  Jew- 
ish disposition,  is  in  all  by  nature.  Hence 
Christ  is  commonly  rejected  in  the  Spirit 
by  Christians,  as  he  was  in  the  Jlesh  by  the 
Jews.  AVe  would  have  him  come  to  give 
us  an  idle  rest,  but  he  appears  to  teach  us 
to  deny  ungodliness,  and  fight  the  good 
fight  of  faith :  this  we  do  not  like.  Our 
nature  wants  to  step  at  once  into  a  throne ; 
but  he  offers  first  to  nail  us  to  the  tree,  and 
to  crucify  our  flesh  with  its  affections  and 
lusts  :  and  from  this  we  shrink  as  from  the 
grave.  We  expect  to  be  carried  at  once 
to  the  top  of  mount  Tabor,  to  see  unutter- 
able glory  ;  but  he  leads  to  Gethsemane  to 
watch  and  pray,  or  to  calvarj^  to  suffer  and 
die  with  him  :  here  we  recoil,  and  do  not 
chuse  to  know  him.  Our  forward  impatience 
dictates,  that  he  shall  instantaneously  turn 
our  midnight  into  noonday  ;  but  instead  of 
manifesting  himself  at  once  as  the  meridian 
sun,  he  will,  perhaps,  appear  as  the  morn- 
ing star,  that  our  light  may  shine  more  and 
more  unto  the  perfect  day.  This  defeats 
our  counsel,  v/e  despise  the  day  of  small 
things,  and  do  not  think  so  low  an  appear- 
ance worth  our  notice  and  thanks.  If  you, 
Sir,  ever  seek  the  saving  knowledge  of 
Jesus,  never  stop  till  }'ou  can  witness  yovir 


142         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.. 

sun  goes  down  no  more  ;  but,  in  the  mean 
fime,  never  slight  the  least  ray  of  heavenly 
light.  The  least  may  open  into  the  broad 
day  of  eternity.  Cease  from  your  own  false 
wisdom,  and  become  as  a  little  child,  of' 
you  cannot  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
and  see  the  king  in  his  beauty. 

The  3d  and  last  inward  means,  1  would 
recommend  to  mourners  in  Sion,  is  a  ten- 
der regard  for  the  reproofs  of  the  Spirit,  a 
constant  attention  to  the  drawings  of  the 
Father,  obedience  to  the  calls  they  have  to 
secret  prayer,  and  a  fear  of  depending  upon 
their  duties,  and  not  solely  upon  the  faith- 
fulness of  Jesus.  Whoever  follows  these 
directions,  according  to  the  grace  given 
him,  will  of  course  cease  from  outward 
evil,  and  do,  as  he  can,  the  little  good  liis 
hand  finds  to  do.  This  is  a  better  way  of 
waiting  for  the  revelation  of  Christ,  than 
to  lie  down  in  dejection  and  hopeless  unbe- 
lief. All  those,  who  sullenly  bury  their 
one  talent,  and  wilfully  retain  the  accursed 
thing,  complain  in  vain  that  their  Lord 
makes  long  tarrying.  They  obstinately 
grieve  his  convincing  Spirit,  and  then  ab* 
surdly  clamour,  because  he  does  not  reward 
them  for  it,  by  the  comforts  of  his  heaven- 
ly presence.  Let  us  not  be  so  unreason- 
able.    Let  us  "  strive  to  enter  in  at  the 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  143 

strait  gate,"  remembermg,  that  "many- 
shall  seek  to  enter  in,  and  shall  not  be  able." 
But  let  us  strive  lawfully,  not  making  our- 
selves a  righteousness  of  our  own  seeking, 
knocking,  and  striving.  The  sun  shines 
not  because  we  deserve  it,  by  undrawing 
our  curtains,  but  because  it  is  its  nature. 
Jesus  visits  us,  not  because  of  any  merit  in 
our  prayers,  &c.  but  for  his  own  sake,  be- 
cause his  truth  and  compassion  fail  not. 
Free  grace  opens  the  door  of  mercy,  not 
to  works  and  merit,  but  to  want  and  misery. 
That  you  and  I  may  knock  and  press  in, 
with  all  needy,  penitent,  believing  sinners, 
is  the  earnest  wish  of  a  heart,  which 
prompts  me  to  subscribe  myself,  Sir, 
Yours,  &c. 


LETTER  V. 

JManifestatlons  recorded  in  the  Old  Testament. 

SIR, 

WHEN  I  told  you,  that,  in  all  ages, 
Jehovah  Jesus  manifests  himself  in  a  pe- 
culiar manner  to  his  people,  you  exclaimed 
against  the  assertion  as  altogether  new  and 
unecriptural.  It  lies  upon  me  therefore  to 
prove,  that  antiquity  and  scripture  are  on 


144        SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

my  side.  I  shall  then  in  this  letter  appeal 
to  the  manifestation  recorded  in  the  Old 
Testament.  You  cannot  expect  all  the  re- 
Viilations  of  any  child  of  God,  much  less 
those  of  every  one,  to  be  mentioned  in  so 
short  a  history  as  that  of  the  Bible.  Never- 
theless, enough  is  said  on  the  point  to  con- 
vince us^  that,  in  every  age  of  the  church, 
(rod  has  favoured  the  sons  of  men  with 
peculiar  displays  of  his  presence. 

Let  us  go  back  as  far  as  Adam  himself. 
Did  not  the  Lord  familiarly  converse  with 
him  before  the  fall,  both  when  he  presented 
him  with  a  partner,  and  when  he  brought 
every  beast  of  the  field  before  him,  to  see 
what  he  would  call  them  ?  Did  he  not  visit 
him  after  the  fall,  to  pronounce  his  sentence, 
and  to  promise,  that  he  would  become  the 
w^oman's  seed,  and  bruisi  the  serpent's 
head  t  Was  not  this  manifestation  granted 
to  Abel,  when  the  Lord  had  respect  to  his 
sacrifice,  the  very  cause  of  Cain's  envy, 
wrath,  and  murder?  Did  not  Enoch's  walk- 
ing with  God  imply  a  constant  union  and 
communion  with  Emmanuel?  And  how 
could  this  union  have  taken  place,  if  the 
Lord  had  not  first  revealed  himself  to  the 
Patriarch  ?  Must  not  two  persons  meet  and 
agree,  before  they  can  walk  and  conversi; 
together  ? 


SPiBlTUAL  MANIPJ^STAXIOX.        14^ 

Xoah  found  grace  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Lord,  and,  in  consequence  of  it,  >vas  made 
acquainted  with  his  righteous  designs,  and 
received  directions  how  to  escape  from  a 
perishing  world.  The  history  of  Abraham 
is  full  of  accounts  of  such  manifestations.  In 
one  of  them,  the  Lord  called  him  out  of  his 
sins,  and  from  his  kindred  to  go  both  to  the 
heavenly  and  earthly  Canaan,  In  others  he 
promised  him  Isaac  and  Isaac's  mysterious 
seed.  Several  }'ears  after,  for  the  trial  of 
his  faith,  he  commanded  him  to  sacrifice 
that  favourite  son ;  and  when  the  trial  was 
over,  he  testified  his  approbation  of  Abra- 
ham's conduct.  He  went  farther.  Read 
Gen.  ch.  1 8,  and  you  will  see,  how  the  di- 
vine Philanthrophy,  or  the  love  of  God  to- 
wards man  appeared,  in  condescending  to 
clothe  himself,  before  hand,  w^ith  the  nature 
he  was  to  assume  in  the  virgin's  womb,  and 
to  converse  in  this  undress  with  the  father 
of  the  faithful,  as  a  prince  with  his  favour- 
ite, or  a  friend  with  his  confident. 

Sarah  and  Agar,  Isaac  and  Rebekah,  had 
their  divine  manifestations ;  hut  those  of 
Jacob  deserve  our  particular  attentio^i. 
When  he  fled  to  Syria  from  the  face  of  his 
brother  Esau,  and  lay  desolate  in  a  field, 
having  only  a  heap  ofjjstones  for  his  pillow^ 
the  ^od  of  a^Ii  consolatfen  appeaEed  to  him ; 


146         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

"  and  behold  the  Lord  stood  above  the  mys- 
terious ladder,  on  which  the  angels  of  God 
ascended,  and  descended,  and  said,  1  am  the 
Lord — behold,  I  am  with  thee,  and  will  keep 
thee  in  all  places,  whither  thou  goest.  And 
Jacob  called  that  place  Bethel,  the  house  of 
God,  and  the  gate  of  heaven;"  as  if  he  had 
wanted  to  intimate,  no  one  ever  found  the 
gate  of  heaven,  but  by  a  manifestation  of 
Christ,  who  is  alone  the  way  to  the  Father^ 
and  the  door  into  glory.  When  the  same 
patriarch  returned  to  Canaan,  and  was  left 
alone  one  night,  there  wrestled  a  man  with 
him  till  the  breaking  of  the  day.  And  when 
this  extraordinary  person  said,  "  Let  me  go 
for  the  day  breaketh;  he  replied,  I  will  not 
let  thee  go,  unless  thou  bless  me ;"  and  he 
blessed  him  there,  acknowledging  that  he 
had  power  with  man  and  God,  even  with 
him,  whose  name  is  Emmanuel,  God  with 
us.  "  And  Jacob  called  the  name  of  the 
place  Peniel  (the /ace  of  God)  for  he  said  I 
have  seen  God  face  to  face,  and  my  life  is 
preserved."  The  design  of  this  manifesta-  . 
tion  was  merely  to  strengthen  his  faith,  and 
we  learn  from  it,  that  the  children  of  faith- 
ful Abraham  wresde  in  prayer  with  the 
God-man,  as  Jacob  did,  till  they  prevail, 
and  ^re  blessed  as  he  was. 

Moses  was  favoured  with  numberless 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  147 

manifestations,  sometimes  as  prime  minis- 
ter of  the  King  of  the  Jews,  and  at  other 
times  only^  as  a  common  believer.  "  There 
appeared  to  him,  in  the  wilderness  of 
mount  Sinai,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  in  a 
flame  of  fire  in  a  bush ;  and  when  Moses 
saw  it,  he  drew  near,  and  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  came  unto  him  saying,  I  am  the  God 
of  thy  fathers,"  &c.*  Many  partook  of  a 
sight  equally  glorious :  "  Moses,  Aaron, 
Nadab,  and  Abihu,  and  seventy  of  the  eld- 
ers of  Israel  went  up  and  saw  the  God  of 
Israel,  and  there  was  under  his  feet  as  it 
were  a  paved  work  of  sapphire  stone,  and 
as  it  were  of  the  body  of  heaven  in  his  clear- 
ness ;  and  upon  the  nobles  of  the  children 
of  Israel  he  laid  not  his  hand  ;  also  they 
SAW  God,  and  did  eat  and  drink. "f  "  Be- 
hold," said  Moses  upon  this  occasion,  "  the 
Lord  our  God  hath  showed  us  his  glory, 
and  we  have  heard  his  voice  out  of  the 
midst  of  the  fire,  and  "we  have  seen  this  da^^ 
that  G  od  doth  talk  with  man  and  he  liveth.":j: 
All  Israel  shared  sometimes  in  the  glo- 
rious manifestation*  They  all  drank  of  that 
spiritual  rock  thai  followed  them,  says  St. 
Paul,  and  that  rock  was  Christ.  The  cloud 
of  the  Lord  was  upon  the  tabernacle  by  day, 

^  Acts  vu.  TO.    t  Ex.  xxiv.  10,  11.    t  Deut.  v.  2i, 


148        SPiRlTUAL  MANIFfc^STATlO^i. 

says  the  Jewish  historian,  and  fire  was 
upon  it  by  night,  in  the  sight  of  all  the 
hoiise  of  Israel.  "  It  came  to  pass  as  Mo- 
ines entered  into  the  tabernacle,  the  cloudy 
pillar  descended,  and  stood  at  the  door  of 
the  tabernacle,  and  the  Lord  talked  with 
Moses,  and  all  the  people  saw  the  cloudy 
pillar,  and  rose  up  and  worshipped  every 
man  in  the  door  of  his  tent.  And  the  Lord 
spake  to  Moses  face  to  face,  as  a  man 
speaketh  to  his  friend."*  So  indulgent 
was  Emmanuel  to  him,  that  when  he  said, 
''^  I  beseech  thee  show  me  thy  glory,  the 
Lord  answered,  I  will  make  all  my  good- 
ness pass  before  thee ;  but  thou  canst 
not  see  my  face  (without  some  veil)  and 
live.  And  (Oh  astonishing  condescension !) 
the  Lord  descended  in  the  cloud,  and  stood 
with  him,  and  proclaimed  the  name  of  the 
Lord."  Jehovah,  Jesus  passed  before  him, 
and  proclaimed  Jehovah,  Jehovah,  ^.  e. 
revealed  to  him  the  Father  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  one  merciful  God  together  with  him- 
self.  And  Closes  made  haste,  bowed  his 
head  towards  the  earth  and  worshipped. 
These  displays  of  divine  goodness  and  glory 
left  a  divine  impression  on  the  countenance 
of  the  man  of  God  j  his  face  shone  so  traii- 
scendently  glorious,  that  the  children  of 
*  Ex.  xxsiii.'^. 


•SHniTUAL  MANIFEST ATIOX.       149 

Israel  were  afraid  to  come  nigh  him ;  and 
he  was  obliged  to  put  a  veil  upon  it,  before 
he  could  converse  with  them.  Though 
this  appears  very  extraordinary,  the  apos- 
tles inform  us,  that  what  happened  to  the 
countenance  of  Moses,  happens  to  the  souls 
of  all  believers.  By  faith  they  behold  the 
Lord  through  the  glass  of  gospel  promises, 
and  beholding  him  they  are  made  partakers 
of  the  divine  nature; — they  are  changed 
into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory. 

Joshua,  Moses's  successor,  was  blessed 
w^ith  many  such  manifestations,  each  of 
which  conveyed  to  him  new  degrees  of 
courage  and  wisdom.  To  instance  in  one 
only  :  "  When  he  was  by  Jericho,  he  lift 
up  his  eyes  and  looked,  and  behold,  there 
stood  a  man  over  against  him,  with  his 
s\\rord  drawn  in  his  hand.  And  Joshua 
went  to  him,  and,  said.  Art  thou  for  us,  or 
for  our  adversaries  ?  And  he  said,  nay,  but 
as  Captain  of  the  Lord's  host  am  I  come. 
And  Joshua  (sensible  it  was  Jehovah)  fell 
on  his  face  to  the  earth,  worshipped,  and 
said  to  him,  What  says  my  Lord  to  his 
suervant?  And  the  Captain  of  the  Lord's 
host  said  to  Joshua,  Loose  thy  shoe  from 
off  thy  foot,  for  the  place  whereon  thou 
standest  is  holy  ground ;  and  Joshua  did 
N  2 


150  =     SPIRITUAL  MANIFEST ATIOK- 

so."^  Every  true  discovery  of  Christ  hatti 
a  similar  effect.  It  humbles  the  sinner,  and 
makes  him  worship  in  the  dust.  He  sees 
holiness  to  the  Lord  written  upon  every 
surrounding  object :  he  is  lodsed  from  earth 
and  earthly  things,  and  the  towering  walls 
of  sin  fall  before  him,  as  those  of  Jericho, 
soon  after  this  m^mifestation,  did  before 
Joshua. 

When  that  chief  was  dead,  the  same 
heavenly  Person,  called  the  angel  of  the 
Lord,  came  from  Gilgal  to  Bochim  and 
spake  such  words  to  all  the  children  of 
Israel,  that  the  people  were  universally 
melted ;  they  lift  up  their  voice,  wept,  and 
sacrificed.!  Nothing  can  so  eflfectually 
make  sinners  relent  as  a  sight  of  him  whom 
they  have  pierced.  When  they  have  it, 
whatever  place  they  are  in,  becomes  a  Bo- 
chim, a  valley  of  tears  and  adoration. 

Not  long  after  the  Lord  manifested  him- 
self to  Deborah,  and  by  the  wisdom  and 
fol'titude  communicated  to  her  in  that  reve- 
lation, she  was  enabled  to  judge  Israel,  and 
lead  desponding  JJarak  to  certain  victory 
through  nine  hundred  chariots  of  iron. 

The  condescenjiian  of  our  Kmmanuel 
^{^a^s^ijti  a  still  more  striking  light,  in  the 

*  Josh.  y.  1  '.  T  J'id^.  i\  1. 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATIOX.  151 

manifestation,  which  he  vouchsafed  to 
Gideon.  This  mysterious  "  Angel  of  the 
Lord  (again  and  again  called  Jehovah) 
came  and  sat  under  an  oak  in  Ophrah,  ap- 
peared to  Gideon  and  said,  The  Lord  is 
with  thee  and  thou  shalt  smite  the  Midian- 
ites  as  one  man.  And  the  Lord  looked 
upon  him,  (what  a  courage-inspiring  look 
was  this !  as  powerful  no  doubt,  as  that 
which  met  cursing  Peter's  eye,  and  darted 
repentanse  to  his  heart  I)  and  he  said,  Go 
in  this  thy  might ;  have  not  I  sent  thee  ? 
And  Gideon  said,  Alas  !  O  Lord  God,  for 
because  I  have  seen  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
face  to  face.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him, 
Peace  be  unto  thee,  fear  not,  thou  shalt  not 
die.  Thus  strengthened  and  comforted, 
he  built  an  altar  to  Jehovah-Shalom,  and 
threw  down  the  altar  of  Baal.*^  Hence  we 
learn,  that,  when  Jesus  manifests  himself 
to  a  sinner,  he  fills  him  with  a  noble  con- 
tempt of  Baal,  an  effectual  resolution  to 
break  down  his  altars,  and  a  divine  courage 
to  shake  off  the  yoke  of  the  spiritual  Mi- 
dianites.  He  imparts  to  him  a  comfortable 
assurance,  that  the  bitterness  of  death  is 
past,  and  that  Jehovah  Shalom,  the  God  of 
peace,  even  Christ  our  peace,  is  with  him  • 

•  Jud^.  vl.  XI.  k^. 


1J2        SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATIOl/. 

and  the  sinner,  constrained  by  the  love  of 
Christ,  gives  him  his  believing  hearty  and 
offers  sacrifices  of  thanksgiving  on  that  best 
of  altars.  Here  begins  such  a  free  inter- 
course between  the  Redeemer  and  the  re- 
deemed, as  we  find  began  between  the  Lord 
and  Gideon,  only  of  a  far  more  spiritual 
aiid  delightful  nature. 

Some  years  after,  the  same  Angel  of  God 
appeared  to  Manoah's  wife  and  promised 
her  a  son.  Her  husband  prayed  for  the 
saipe  manifestation.  God  hearkened  to  his 
voice.  The  heavenly  Personage  manifest- 
ed himself  a  second  time.  Manoah  asked 
him  his  name,  and  the  "  Angel  said  to  him. 
Why  askest  thou  after  my  name,  seeing  it 
is  a  secret :"  I  am  not  yet  called  jesus. 
Manoah  offered  a  burnt-offering,  the  Angel 
received  it  at  his  hands  :  and,  while  he  as- 
cended in  the  flame  of  the  altar,  Manoah 
fell  on  his  face  to  the  ground,  knew  that 
he  was  the  Aiigel  Jehovah,  and  said  to  his 
wife.  We  shall  surely  die,  because  we  have 
seen  God.  She  comforted  him  under  his 
fears ;  and  the  birth  of  Sampson,  instead 
of  their  death,  was  the  consequence  of  this 
tvvofold  manifestation. 

There  was  a  time  when  Samuel  did  not 
yet  know  the  Lord,  neither  was  the  wojd 
of  the  Lord,  that  Word  which  was  after- 


SPIRITUAL  MAXIFESTATIOX.         I55 

'vards  made  flesh,  yet  revealed  unto  him. 
'I'he  devoted  youth  worshipped  in  the  dark, 
till  "the  Lord  appeared  again  in  Shiloh, 
came,  stood,  and  called,  Samuel,  SamUel ; 
for  the  Lord  revealed  himself  to  him  there, 
by  the  Word  of  the  Lord."  From  that 
memorable  time,  "  the  Lord  was  with  him, 
and  did  let  none  of  his  words  fall  to  the 
ground."  The  intercourse  between  God 
and  his  prophet  soon  grew  to  so  great  a 
degree,  that  the  sacred  historian  says,  "  the 
Lord  told  him  in  his  ear"  what  he  wanted 
him  to  be  informed  of.^ 

David  had  many  manifestations  of  Christ, 
and  his  pardoning  love  ;  and,  far  from  sup- 
posing this  blessing  peculiar  to  himself  as  a 
prophet,  he  declares  that  "  for  this  every 
one  that  is  godly  shall  pray  to  God,  when 
he  may  be  found."f  He  knew  his  Shep- 
herd's inward  voice  so  well,  that,  without 
it,  no  outward  message,  though  ever  so 
comfortable,  could  restore  peace  to  his 
troubled  mind.  When  he  had  been  con- 
ivinced  of  his  crimes  of  adultery  and  mur- 
ider,  by^  the  close  application  of  Nathan's 
[parable,  the  prophet  assured  him  the  Lord 
pad  put  away  his  sin,  he  should  not  die. 
This  report  would  have  contented  many  of 

*■  1  SSm.  ill.  7.  and  ix.  15.       f  Ps.  xxxii.  6. 


154        SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

our  modern  penitents ;  but  nothing  short  of 
an  immediate  manifestation  of  the  forgiving 
God,  could  comfort  the  royal  mourner. 
"  Wash  thou  me,  says  he,  and  I  shall  be 
clean."  Nathan's  words,  though  ever  so 
true,  cannot  do  this  ;  speak  thyself  merciful 
Lord,  "  make  me  hear  joy  and  gladness, 
that  the  bones  which  thou  hast  broken  may 
rejoice." 

Exceedingly  remarkable  was  the  revela- 
tion his  son  Solomon  was  favoured  with. 
^'  In  Gibeon,  where  he  was  gone  to  sacri- 
fice, the  Lord  appeared  unto  him,  in  a 
dream  by  night,  and  God  said.  Ask  what 
I  shall  give  thee."  Conscious  of  his  greatest 
want,  "he  asked  an  understanding  heart. 
The  speech  pleased  the  Lord,  and  God 
said.  Because  thou  hast  asked  this  thing,  I 
have  done  according  to  thy  word;  lo,  I 
have  given  it  thee  ;  and  that  also  which 
thou  hast  not  asked,  both  riches  and  ho- 
nour." Though  this  promise  was  made  to 
him  in  a  dream,  he  knew  by  the  change, 
which  he  found  in  himself,  when  he  awa- 
ked, and  by  the  powerful  evidence,  which 
accompanies  divine  manifestations,  that  it 
was  a  glorious  reality.  Fully  persuaded  of 
it,  he  scrupled  not  to  offer  peace-offerings. 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.        IJJ 

and  make  a  fea*t  to  all  his  servants  on  the 
occasion*.  Nor  was  this  the  only  time  So- 
lomon was  thus  favoured.  When  he  had 
built  the  temple,  and  prayed  for  a  blessings 
upon  it,  "  the  Lord  appeared  to  him  a  se- 
cond time,  as  he  had  appeared  to  him  in 
Gibeon,  and  said,  "  I  have  heard  thy  pray- 
er."t^^ 

Elijah  is  so  famous  for  the  power  he  had 
to  obtain  divine  manifestations  by  the  pray- 
er of  faith,  that  St.  James,  who  had  seen 
him  on  the  mount  with  Christ  and  Moses, 
proposes  him  to  the  church  for  a  pattern  of 
successful  wrestling  with  God.  And  who 
is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah,  but  the  God 
that  manifests  himself  to  his  worshippers, 
in  opposition  to  Baal  and  other  false  gods, 
from  whom  neither  visits  nor  answers  can 
be  obtained  ?  the  Lord  answered  him  by 
fire  at  the  foot  of  IMount  Carmel,  and  by 
showers  on  the  top  ;  and  "  when  he  lodg- 
ed in  Mount  Horeb  in  a  cave,  behold,  the 
Word  of  the  Lord  (Jehovah  Jesus)  came 
to  him  and  said.  What  doest  thou  here  Eli- 
jah ?  Go  forth,  stand  upon  the  mount  be- 
fore the  Lord.  And  behold,  the  Lord  pas- 
sed by ;"  and  in  his  still  small  voice  com- 
forted, supported,  and  directed  him.t 

*  2  Kings  iii.    f  i  Kings  iii  2. 


loTG        SmRVlUAL  MANUESTATIQ}^. 

3Iicaiah,  another  man  of  God,  "  saw  the 
liord  sitting  on  his  thrcine,  and  all  the  host 
of  heaven  standing  by  him  on  his  right  hand 
and  on  his  left."'^  Elisha  was  not  only 
blessed  with  frequent  manifestations  of  the 
Lord  and  his  power,  but  of  his  heavenly  re- 
tinue also.  He  saw  in  an  hour  of  danger, 
"  the  mountain  full  of  horses  and  chariots 
of  fire,"  ready  to  protect  him  ;  imd  at  his 
request,  the  Lord  condescended  to  open  his 
servant's  eyes,  that  his  drooping  spirits 
might  revive  at  the  sight.f 

Eiiphaz,  one  of  Job's  friends,  related  to 
him,  that  "  in  thoughts  from  visions  of  the 
night,  when  deep  sleep  falleth  on  men,  fear 
and  trembling  came  upon  him.  Then  ar 
spirit  passed  before  his  face ;  it  stood  still, 
but  he  could  not  discern,  i.  e.  cleai'ly  dis- 
tinguish the  form  thereof.  An  image  was 
before  his  face,  and  he  heard  a  voice  say- 
ing. Shall  mortal  man  be  more  pure  than 
irod  ?"  As  for  Job,  when  he  had  long  con- 
tended with  his  friends,  the  Lord  answer- 
ed him  out  of  the  whirlwind,  and  manifes- 
ted himself  in  a  manner,  to  which  that  good 
man  was  before  a  stranger.  **  I  have  heard 
of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  but  now 
mine  eye  seeth  thee  ;    wherefore,  I  abhor 

*  X  Kings  XX ii.  l^.-  f  2-Kiug?>  vi  IT 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.         IS7 

myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes*" 
Hence  we  learn,  that  nothing  but  a  disco- 
very of  the  Lord  can  silence  the  vain  rea- 
sonings of  self-righteous  pleas  and  unbe- 
lieving fears  :  this  alone  makes  us  to  lie  in 
deep  prostration  at  our  Maker's  feet. 

St.  John  informs  us,  that  Isaiah  saiv 
Christ's  glory,  and  spake  of  him,  when  he 
described  the  glorious  manifestation,  in 
which  he  received  a  new  seal  of  pardoning 
and  sanctifying  love.  "I  saw  the  Lord, 
says  he,  sitting  upon  his  throne,  high  and 
lifted  up  ;  his  train  filled  the  temple.  The 
Seraphims  covering  their  faces  with  their 
wings,  cried  one  to  another,  Holy,  Holy, 
Holy  is  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  Then  said  I, 
wo  is  me,  for  I  am  undone,  because  I  am 
a  man  of  unclean  lips ;  and  I  dwell  in  the 
midst  of  people  of  unclean  lips ;  for  mine 
eyes  have  seen  the  King,  the  Lord  of 
Hosts.  Then  flew  one  of  the  Seraphims, 
-and  touching  me  with  a  live  coal  from  off 
the  altar,  he  said.  Thine  iniquity  is  taken  a- 
way  aud  thy  sin  purged."*  Many  never  wit- 
ness the  foregiveness  of  their  sins,  till  they 
jsee  by  faith  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  and  ar6 
melted  into  repentance,  and  inflamed  with 
teve  at  the  glorious  sight.    Isaiah  not  only 

*  jba.  vi.  1.  &c. 
o 


158         SnmTUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

beheld  Christ's  glory ,«»but  was  blessed  with 
the  clearest  views  of  his  sufferings.  He 
saw  him  as  "  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  ac- 
quainted with  griefs ;"  and  asked  him; 
"  Why  he  was  red  in  his  apparel,  and  his 
garments  like  him  that  treadeth  the  wine 
vat  ?"  These  revelations  were  not  only  cal- 
culi\Jed  for  the  good  of  the  Church,  but  al- 
so for  the  establishment  of  the  prophet's 
faith. 

I  shall  not  mention  those  of  Ezekiel ; 
they  are  so  numerous,  that  a  particular  ac- 
count of  them  would  alone  fill  a  letter.     I 
refer  you  to  the   book   itself.     Jeremiah, 
speaking  of  God's  people  says,  in  express 
terms,  The    Lord   hath   appeared  of    old 
unto  me  saying,  "  Yea,  I  have  loved  thee 
with  an  everlasting  love  ;    therefore  with 
loving  kindness  have  I  drawn  thee."     Da- 
niel enjoyed  the  same  favour.     "  He  saw 
the  ancient  of  days,  and  one  like  the  son  of 
man  coming  with  the  clouds  of  heaven." 
We  may  naturally  suppose,  that  Daniel's 
three  companions,  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and 
Abednego,  were  sensible  of  their  heavenly 
deliverer's  presence.  They  were  more  con- 
cerned in  the  discovery  than  Nebuchadnez- 
zar, who  cried  out,  "  Lo,  I  see  four  men 
loose,  walking  in  the  midst  of  the  fire,  and 
the  form  of  the  fourth  is  like  the  Son  of 
God." 


SPHIITUAI.  MANIFESTATION.         tS9 

It  would  be  absurd  to  suppose,  that  the 
lesser  prophets,  and  other  men  of  God,  to 
whom  the  word  of  the  Lord  came,  had  no 
discovery  of  the  Lord  himself,  the  essen- 
tial word.  If  some  display  of  his  presence 
"ad  not  attended  their  every  revelation, 
might  they  not  have  said,  Thus  says  my 
warm  imagination,^ — thus  says  my  enthusi- 
astic brain,  as  well  as.  Thus  says  the  Lord  ? 
From  the  variety  and  authenticity  of  these 
manifestations  left  upon  sacred  record,  I 
conclude,  that  the  doctrine  I  maintain,  far 
from  being  new  and  unscriptural,  is  sup- 
ported by  the  experiences  of  God's  children 
for  3600  years,  viz.  from  the  creation  of 
the  world  till  the  close  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment. 

With  respect  to  what  is  extraordinary, 
as  to  the  design,  and  barely  external,  as  to 
the  circumstances  of  some  of  these  mani- 
festations, I  refer  you  to  the  distinctions  I 
made  on  that  subject  in  my  second  letter. 
Should  you  object,  that  the  contents  of  this 
prove  only,  that  God  favoured  the  Patri- 
archs and  Jews  with  immediate  revelations 
of  himself,  because  they  had  neither  the 
gospel  nor  the  scriptures  :  I  answer, 

1.  The  gospel  was  preached  to  them,  as 
well  as  to  us.  The  Patriarchs  had  tradition, 
which  answered  the  end  of  xht  scriptures, 


160         SPIRiJUAL  IMANIFESTATION 

in  their  day.  The  Jews,  in  the  time  of  the^ 
judges,  had  not  only  tradition,  but  a  consi- 
derable part  of  the  scriptures,  even  all  the 
writings  of  Moses.  Under  the  kings,  they 
had  the  Psalms,  Job,  Ecclesiastes,  the  Pro- 
verbs, and  a  thousand  and  five  songs  of  So- 
lomon, one  of  which  only  has  been  handed 
down  to  our  times.  They  had  also  tl^e 
book  of  Nathan  the  prophet,  the  prophecy 
of  Ahijah  the  Shilonite,  and  the  visions  of 
Iddo  the  seer,  which  are  now  lost.  These 
Contained  the  substance  of  the  Bible. 

2.  When  the  Lord  answered  S^  Yio 
more,  neither  by  prophets,  nor  by  dreams, 
the  reason  assigned  for  it  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  is,  not  that  the  canon  of  scripture 
was  filled,  and  there  was  no  more  occasion 
for  immediate  revelations ;  but  that  the  Lord 
was  departed  from  him,  and  was  become 
his  enemy. 

3.  David,  who  had  the  honour  of  being 
a  sacred  writer  himself,  after  his  relapse 
into  sin,  could  not  be  satisfied  with  the 
Psalms  he  had  penned  down,  but  mourned, 
prayed,  and  watered  his  bed  with  his  tears, 
inconsolable  till  the  Lord  immediately  re- 
vealed his  pardoning  love,  and  said  to  his 
soul,  I  am  thy  salvation. 

4.  If,  because  we  have  the  letter  of  scrip- 
ture, we  must  be  deprived  of  all  immedi- 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION,  16i 

ate  manifestations  of  Christ  and  his  Spirit, 
we  are  great  losers  by  that  blessed  book, 
and  we  might  reasonably  say — "  Lord  bring 
us  back  to  the  dispensation  of  Moses.  Thy 
Jewish  servants  could  formerly  converse 
with  thee  face  to  face,  but  now  we  can  know 
nothing  of  thee,  but  by  their  writings.  They 
viewed  thy  glory  in  various  wonderful  ap- 
pearances, but  we  are  indulged  only  with 
black  lines  telling  us  of  thy  glory.  They 
Jiad  the  bright  Shekinnh,  and  we  have  only 
obscure  descriptions  of  it.  They  were  bles- 
sed with  lively  oracles,  aqd  we  only  with  a 
dead  letter.  Tlie  ark  of  thy  covenant  went 
before  them,  and  struck  terror  into  all  their 
adversaries  ;  but  a  book,  of  which  our  ene- 
mies make  daily  sport,  is  the  only  revela- 
tion of  thy  power  among  us.  They  made 
their  boast  of  Urim  and  Thummim,  and 
received  particular,immediate  answers  from 
betweeivthe  Cherubim  ;  hut  we  have  only 
general  ones,  by  means  of  Hebrew  and 
Greek  writings,  which  many  do  not  under- 
stand. They  conversed  familiarly  with  jMo- 
ses,  their  mediator,  widi  Aaron  their  high 
priest,  and  Samuel  their  prophet ;  these  ho- 
ly ni  en  gave  them  unerring  directions  in 
doubtful  cases  ;  but,  alas  I  the  apostles  and 
inspired  men  are  all  dead,  iind  thou  Jesus, 
our  Mediator,  Priest,  and  Prophet,  canst 
o  2 


162         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

not  be  consulted  to  any  purpose,  for  thou 
manifestest  thyself  no  more.  As  for- thy 
sacred  book,  thou  knowest  that  sometimes 
the  want  of  money  to  purchase  it,  the  want 
of  learning  to  consult  the  original,  the  want 
of  wisdom  to  understand  the  translation, 
the  want  of  skill  or  sight  to  read  it,  prevent 
our  improving  it  to  the  best  advantage,  and 
keep  some  from  reaping  any  benefit  from 
it  at  all.  O  Lord,  if,  because  we  have  this 
blessed  picture  of  thee,  we  must  have  no 
discovery  of  the  glorious  original,  have 
compassion  on  us,  take  back  thy  precious 
book,  and  impart  thy  more  precious  self  to 
us,  as  thou  didst  to  thy  ancient  people." 

5.  St.  Paul  declares,  that  though  the  Mo- 
saic dispensation  was  glorious,  that  of  Christ 
exceeds  it  in  glory.  But  if  Christ  revealed 
himself  immediately  to  the  Jews,  and  to 
Christians  only  mediately,  by  the  letter  of 
a  book,  it  is  plain,  the  apostle  was  mista- 
ken ;  for  no  one  can  deny,  it  is  far  more 
glorious  to  see  the  light  of  God's  counte- 
nance and  hear  his  voice,  than  merely  to 
read  something  about  them  in  a  book. 

6.  That  particular  manifestations  of  Christ, 
far  from  ceasing  with  the  Jewish,  have  in- 
creased in  brightness  and  spirituality  under 
theChristian  dispensation,  I  shall  endeavour 
to  prove  in  my"  next.     I  atn,  Sir,  &c. 


LETTER  VI. 

Manifestations  ofClirisl,  have  increased  in  brightness 
and  spirituality  under  the  Christian  dispensation. 

SIR, 

ACCORDING  to  my  promise,  I  shall 
now  prove,  that  the  New  Testament  a- 
bounds,  as  well  as  the  Old,  with  accounts  of 
particular  revelations  of  the  Son  of  God. 

Before  his  birth,  he  manifested  himself  to 
the  blessed  virgin,  by  the  overshadowing 
, power  of  the- Holy  Ghost.  She  rejoiced 
in  God  her  Saviour,  and  glorified  more,  in 
having  him  revealed  as  God  in  her  soul, 
than  in  finding  him  conceived  as  man  in 
her  womb.  Soon  after  Joseph,  her  hus- 
band, was  assured  in  a  heavenly  dream, 
that  the  child  she  bore  was  Emmanuel, 
God  v/ith  us.  He  revealed  himself  next  to 
Elizabeth.  When  she  heard  the  salutation 
of  Mary,  she  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  made  sensible,  that  the  virgin  was  the 
mother  of  her  Lord.  So  powerful  was  this 
manifestation,  that  her  unborn  son  was  af- 
fected by  it — ^^rhe  babe  leaped  in  her  womb 
for  joy,  and  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost 
even  from  his  mother's  womb. 


164        SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

So  important  is  a  particular  knowledge 
of  Jesus,  that  an  angel  directed  the  shep- 
herds, and  a  miraculous  star  the  wise  men, 
to  the  place  where  he  was  born :  and  there 
the  Holy  Ghost  so  revealed  him  to  their 
hearts^  that  they  hesitated  not  to  worship 
the  seemingly  despicable  infant,  as  the  ma- 
jestic God,  whom  the  heaven  of  heavens 
cannot  contain, 

Simeon  who  waited  for  the  consolation 
of  Israel,  had  it  revealed  to  him  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  that  he  should  not  see  death, 
before  he  had  seen  the  Lord's  Christ.  TJie 
promise  was  fulfilled  ;  and  while  his  bodily 
eyes  discovered  nothing  but  a  poor  infant, 
presented  without  pomp  in  the  temple,  his 
spiritual  eyes  perceived  him  to  be  the  light 
of  Israel,  and  the  salvation  of  God.  Nor 
was  this  extraordinary  favour  granted  only 
to  Simeon  ;  for  it  is  written,  all  flesh  shall 
see  the  salvation  of  God ;  and  St.  Luke  in- 
forms us,  that  Anna  partook  of  the  sight 
with  the  old  Israelite,  gave  thanks  to  her 
new  born  Lord,  and  spake  of  him  to  all 
that  waited  for  redemption  in  Jerusalem. 
:  When  he  entered  upon  his  ministry,  he 
first  manifested  himself  to  his  forerunner, 
"  1  knew;hira  not":  personally,  said  John  ; 
'Vbut  he  that  sentnie  to  baptize  with  water, 
said  unto  me^,*|LJppij  .W'hom  thou  sh^alt  set*. 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.         ie,3 

the  Spirit  descending,  and  remaining  on 
him,  the  same  is  he,  who  baptizes  with  the 
Holy  Ghost.  And  I  saw,  and  bear  record, 
that  this  is  the  Son  of  God,  the  Lamb,  that 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world." 

Jesus  had  manifested  himself  spiritually 
to  Nathaniel  under  the  fig  tree ;  and  the 
honest  Israelite,  being  reminded  of  that 
divine  favour,  confessed  the  author  of  it : 
Rabbi,  said  he,  thou  art  the  Son  of  God, 
thou  art  the  King  of  Israel.  Our  Lord 
pleased  with  his  ready  confession,  promised 
that  he  should  see  greater  things,  enjoy 
brighter  manifestations,  than  these;  that 
he  should  even  see  heaven  open,  and  the 
angels  of  God  ascending  and  descending 
Aipon  the  Son  of  man. 

The  bare  outzvard  s'lQht  of  our  Saviour's 
person  and  miracles  rather  confounded  than 
converted  the  beholders.  What  glorious 
beams  of 'his  Godhead  pierced  through  the 
veil  of  his  mean  appearances,  when,  with 
supreme  authority,  he  turned  the  bi^yers 
and  sellers  out  of  the  temple  :  When  he  en- 
tered Jerusalem  in  triumph,  and  all  the 
city  was  moved,  saying.  Who  is  this  ?  And 
when  he  said  to  those  who  apprehended 
him,  I  am  HE,  and  they  went  backw^ard, 
and  fell  to  the  ground  !  Nevertheless,  we  do 
not  find,  that  one  person  was  blessed  with 


X6B  SPIRITUAl.  manifestation: 

the  saving  knowledge  of  him,  on  any  of 
these  solemn  occasions.  The  people  of  Gal- 
ilee saw  most  of  him,  and  yet  belie'ved  least 
in  him.  "  AV hat  wisdom  is  this,  which  is 
given  to  this  man,  said  they,  that  such  migh- 
ty works  are  wrought  by  his  hands  ?  Is  not 
this  the  carpenter  the  son  of  Mary?  and 
they  were  oifended  at  him."  Some  went 
even  so  far  as  to  ascribe  his  miracles  to  a 
diabolical  power,  affirming,  that  he  cast  out 
devils  by  Belzebub  the  prince  of  the  devils. 
Hence  it  appears,  that  if  he  had  not  in  some 
degree,  revealed  himself  to  the  hearts  of  his 
disciples,  when  he  said  to  them.  Follow  me, 
they  would  never  have  forsaken  all  imme- 
diately and  followe(lhim.  He  manifested 
forth  his  glor}^,  sayj^t.  John,  and  his  dis- 
ciples believed  on  hiUb^nd  yet,  when  the 
manifestation  was  chiefly  external,  how 
weak  was  the  ej^ect  it  produced  even  upon 
them  ?  How  was  our  I^ord,  after  all,  oblig- 
ed to  upbraid  them  with  their  unbelief,  their 
little  faidi,  and,  on  a  particular  occasion 
with  their  having  no  faith?  If  we  know, 
savingly,  that  Jesus  is  God  with  us,  flesh 
and  blood,  i.  e.  mere  man  with  all  his  best 
pov/ers,  hath  not  revealed  this  to  us,  but 
our  Father,  who  is  in  heaven.  As  no  man. 
knoweth  the  Father  save  the  Son  and  he  to 
whom  the  Son  will  reveal  him;  so  no  m^n 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATIOX.  16^ 

knoweth  the  Son  but  the  Father,  and  he  to 
whom  the  Spirit  proceeding  from  the  Fa- 
ther does  reveal  him.  For  no  man  can  sav- 
ingly say,  that  Jesus  is  Jehovah,  the  Lord, 
but  by  the  Holy  Ghost :  and  he,  that  hath 
seen  me,  by  this  divine  revelation,  says  Je- 
sus, hath  seen  the  Father  also ;  for  I  and 
the  Father  are  one. 

Had  not  our  Lord  revealed  himself  in  a 
peculiar  manner  to  sinners,  no  one  would 
have  suspected  him  to  be  God  manifest  in 
the  •flesh.  Till  he  discovers  himself,  as  he 
does  not  unto  the  world,  he  hath  no  form 
nor  comeliness,  says  Isaiah,  and  when  we 
see  him,  there  is  no  beauty  in  him,  that  we 
should  desire  him  ,*  we  hide  as  it  were  our 
faces  from  him  ;  he  is  despised,  and  we 
esteem  him  not.  He  was  obliged  to  say  to 
the  woman  of  Samaria,  I  that  speak  to 
thee  am  he;  and  to  say  it  with  a  power 
that  penetrated  her  heart,  before  she  could 
believe  with  her  heart  unto  righteousness. 
Then,  indeed,  divinely  wrought  upon,  she 
ran  and  invited  her  neighbours  to  draw  liv- 
ing water  out  of  the  well  of  salvation  she 
had  so  happily  found. 

If  our  Lord  had  not  called  Zaccheus  in- 
ivardly  as  well  as  outwardly;  if  he  had  not 
made  him  come  down  from  the  pinnacle  of 
proud  nature,  as  well  as  from  the  sycamore 


168         SPIBITUAL  MANIFESTAxfeN. 

tree ;  if  he  had  not  honoured  his  heart  with 
his  spiritual,  as  he  did  his  house  with  his 
bodily  presence  ;  the  rich  publican  would  ne- 
ver have  received  him  gladly,  nor  would 
the  Lord  have  said,  This  day  is  salvation 
come  to  thy  house,  forasmuch  as  thou  art 
a  son  of  faithful  Abraham. 

Salvation  did  not  enter  into  the  heart  of 
Simon,  who  admitted  our  Lord  to  his  house 
and  table,  as  well  as  Zaccheus.  The  peni- 
tent woman,  who  kissed  his  feet,  and  wash- 
ed them  with  her  tears,  obtained  the  bless- 
ing, which  the  self-righteous  Pharisee  de- 
spised. It  was  to  her  contrite  spirit,  and  not 
to  his  callous  heart,  that  the  Lord  revealed 
himself,  as  the  pardoning  God. 

The  blind  man,  restored  to  his  bodily 
sight,  knew  not  his  heavenly  benefactor,  till 
a  second  and  greater  miracle  was  wrought 
upon  the  eyes  of  his  blind  understanding. 
When  Jesus  found  him,  some  time  after  he 
was  cured,  he  said  to  him,  "  Doest  thou  be- 
lieve on  the  Son  of  God  ?  He  answered, 
Who  is  he  Lord,  that  I  might  believe  on 
him  ?"  And  Jesus,  opening  the  eyes  of  his 
mind,  and  manifesting  himself  to  him,  as  he 
does  not  unto  the  world,  said,  "  Thou  hast 
both  seen  him,  and  it  is  he  that  talketh  with 
thee.'*  Then,  and  not  till  then,  he  could  ?ay 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  169 

from  the  heart,  Lord,  I  believe,  and  he  wor- 
shipped him. 

Both  the  thieves,  who  were  crucified  with 
him,  heard  his  prayers  and  strong  cries ; 
both  saw  his  patience  and  his  meekness,  his 
wounds  and  his  blood.  One  continued  to 
make  sport  of  his  sufferings,  as  though  he 
had  been  a  worse  malefactor  than  himself; 
while  the  other,  blessed  with  an  internal 
revelation  of  his  godhead,  implored  his  mer- 
cy, tisusted  him  with  his  soul,  and  confes- 
sed him  to  be  the  King  of  glory,  at  the  very 
moment,  when  he  hung  tortured  and  dying 
as  the  basest  of  slaves. 

St.  Peter  speaks  so  highly  of  the  mani- 
festation, with  which  he  and  the  two  sons 
of  Zebedee  were  favoured  on  mount  Tabor, 
that  we  ought  not  to  pass  over  it  in  silence. 
They  saw  the  kingdom  of  God  coming  with 
power  ;  they  beheld  the  king  in  his  beauty. 
"  His  face  did  shine  like  the  sun,  and  his 
raiment  became  white  as  light;  a  bright 
cloud  overshadowed  him,  and  behold,  a 
voice  out  of  the  cloud,  which  said.  This  is 
my  beloved  Son  in  whom  I  am  well  pleas- 
ed ;  hear  ye  him." 

Nor  did  our  Lord  reveal  himself  less 
after  his  resurrection.  Mary  sought  him 
at  the  grave  with  tears.  As  she  turned  her- 
self, she  saw  him  standing,  but  knew  not 
p 


170         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

that  it  was  Jesus.  He  said  unto  her,  Why 
deepest  thou  i  Whom  seekest  thou  ?  She, 
supposing  him  to  be  the  gardener,  enquired 
aft'jr  the  object  of  her  love ;  until  Jesus, 
calling  her  by  her  name,  manifested  him- 
self to  her  as  alive  from  the  dead.  Then 
she  cried  out,  Master !  and  in  her  trans- 
port, would  have  taken  her  old  place  at  his 
feet. 

With  equal  condescension  he  appeared 
to  Simon,  that  he  might  not  be  swallowed 
up  with  overmuch  sorrow.  True  mourn- 
ers in  Sion  weep,  some  for  an  absent  God, 
as  Mary,  others  for  their  sins  as  Peter; 
and  they  will  not  be  comforted,  no  not  by 
angels  ;  but  only  by  him,  who  is  nigh  to 
all  chat  call  upon  him,  and  is  health  to  those 
that  are  broken  in  heart.  He,  that  aj)pear- 
ed  first  to  weeping  Mary,  and  next  to  sor- 
rowing Peter,  will  shortly  visit  them  v/ith 
his  salvation.  He  is  already  with  them,  as 
he  was  with  Mary,  though  they  know  it 
not ;  and  he  will  soon  be  in  them  the  sure 
and  comfortable  hope  of  glory. 

This  observation  is  farther  confirmed  by 
the  experience  of  the  two  disciples,  who 
walked  to  Kmmaus,  and  were  sad,  Jesus 
drew  near,  joined  and  comforted  them.  He 
made  their   hearts  to  burn   within  them 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.        1  ft 

while  he  talked  with  them  by  the  way,  and 
opened  to  them  the  scriptures.*  But  still 
their  eyes  were  held,  that  they  should  not 
know  him,  before  they  were  prepared  for 
the  overwhelming  favour.  And  it  was  not 
until  he  sat  at  meat  with  them,  that  their 
eyes  were  opened,  and  they  knew  him  in 
the  breaking  of  bread.  By  a  fatal  mistake, 
raariy  professors  in  our  day  I'est  satisjicd 
with  what  did  not  satisfy  the  two  disciples. 
They  understood  the  Scriptures,  their 
hearts  burnt  with  love  and  joy ;  Jesus  was 
v/ith  theni,  but  they  knew  him  not,  until 
the  happy  moment,  when  he  fully  opened 
the  eye  of  their  faith,  and  poured  the  light 
of  his  countenance  on  their  ravished  spirits ! 
H-appy  those,  who,  like  them,  constrain  an 
unknown  Jesus  by  mighty  prayers  to  tarry 
with  them,  until  the  veil  is  taken  away  from 
their  hearts  and  they  know  in  whom  they 
hjfVe  believed ! 

Frequent  were  the  manifestations  of 
Jesus  to  his  disciples  before  his  ascension. 
An  angel  appeared  to  two  of  the  holy 
mourners,  and  said  to  them,  "Fear  not;  for 
I  know,  that  ye  seek  Jesus  who  was  cnici- 
fied.    He  is  risen  from  the  dead.    As  they 

*  This  bnrniiig'  expres^ses  the  ntiotions  of  the  heartt 
\vhi(fii  till  this  day,  is  fdt  in  believers. 


1  /2         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

ran  with  fear  and  great  joy  to  tell  his  dis- 
ciples,  Jesus  met  them  saying,  All  hail! 
and  they  came,  held  him  by  the  feet,  and 
worshipped  him."  The  same  day  in  the 
evening,  when  the  doors  were  shut  where 
the  disciples  were  assembled  for  fear  of  the 
Jews,  came  Jesus,  and  stood  in  the  midst. 
They  were  terrified,  but  with  his  wonted 
goodness  he  said,  Peace  be  unto  you  !  He 
showed  them  his  hands  and  his  feet ;  ate 
with  them  as  he  had  done  of  old  with  Abra- 
ham ;  and,  to  testify  an  inward  manifesta- 
tion of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  he  imparted 
to  them,  breathed  upon  them,  as  his  Spirit 
breathed  upon  their  minds  :  and  thus  he 
opened  their  understandings,  that  they 
might  understand  the  scriptures.  Out  of 
condescension  to  Thomas  he  showed  him- 
self to  them  a  second  time,  in  the  like  man- 
ner ;  and  a  third  time  at  the  sea  of  Tibe- 
rias :  and  afterwards  he  was  seen  of  abo\^e 
five  hundred  brethren  at  once. 

You  will  perhaps  say.  Sir,  that  these 
manifestations  ceased  when  Clirist  was  as- 
cended to  heaven.  This  is  true  with  re- 
spect to  the  manifestation  of  a  body  of  such 
gross  flesh  and  blood,  as  may  be  touched 
with  material  hands.  In  this  sense  believ- 
ers know  Christ  after  the  flesh  no  more. 
Our  Lord,  by  his  gentle  reproof  to  Thomas, 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  I73. 

discountenanced  our  looking  for  carnal 
manifestations  of  his  person,  and  I  have 
declared  again  and  again,  that  they  are  not 
what  I  contend  for. 

But,  that  spiritual  manifestations  of 
Christ  ceased  at  his  ascension  is  what  I 
must  deny,  if  I  receive  the  scripture.  On 
the  contrary  they  became  more  frequent. 
Three  thousand  were  pricked  to  the  heart 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  and  felt  their  need 
of  a  visit  from  the  heavenly  Physician.  He 
then  came  revealed  in  the  power  of  his 
Spirit,  with  whom  he  is  one.  -They  receiv- 
ed the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  whose  office 
it  is  to  manifest  the  Son.  For  the  promise 
was  unto  them  and  their  children,  and  to 
as  many,  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call; 
witness  the  last  words  of  Christ  in  St.  Matr 
thew's  gospel,  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 

Time  Would  fail  me  to  tell  of  the  five 
thousand  converted  some  days  after,  of 
Cornelius  and  his  household,  Lydia  and 
her  household;  in  a  word,  of  all  who  were 
truly  brought  to  Christ  in  the  first  age  of 
Christianity.  ''  The  Lord  opened  their 
hearts.  The  Holy  Ghost  fell  upon  them ; 
and  they  walked  in  his  comforts.  Christ 
was  evidently  set  forth  crucified  before 
their  spiritual  eves.  He  dwelt  in  their 
P  2 


jy4       SPIRITUAL  maniVestation. 

hearts  by  faith ;  they  lived  not,  but  Christ 
lived  in  them."  They  agreed  in  saying, 
with  St.  Paul,  If  any  man  have  not  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  by  whom  he  is  savingly 
known,  he  is  none  of  his. 

Stephen's  experience  is  alone  sufficient 
to  decide  the  point.  When  brought  before 
the  council  they  all  saw  his  face,  as  it  had 
been  the  face  of  an  angel.  Being  full  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  he  wrought  no  miracle, 
he  .  spake  no  new  tongue  ;  but  "  looked 
steadfastly  up  into  heaven,  and  saw  the 
glory  of  God,  and  Jesus  standing  at. the 
right  hand  of  God ;  and  said,  Behold,  I  see 
the  heavens  opened  and  the  Son  of  man 
standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God."  This 
manifestation  was  calculated  only  for  the 
private  encouragement  and  comfort  of  the 
pious  Deacon.  It  answered  no  other  end, 
but  to  enrage  the  Jews  and  make  them 
account  him  a  greater  blasphemer  and  a 
wilder  enthusiast,  than  they  did  before. 
Accordingly  they  cried  aloud,  stopped  their 
ears,  ran  upon  him,  cast  him  out  of  the 
city,  and  stoned  hinv;  while  Stephen  under 
the  powerful  influence  of  the  manifestation, 
kneeled  dowil,  called  upon  God,  saying, 
liord  Jesus  receive  my  spirit,  and  lay  not 
this  sin  to  their  charge.  Hence  we  learn, 
5rst,  that  nothing-  appears  so  absurd  and 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  173 

tvkked  to  Pharisees  and  formalists,  as  the 
doctrine  I  maintain.  They  lose  all  patience^ 
when  they  hear  that  Christ  really  manifests 
himself"  to  his  servants.  No  blasphemy  like 
this  in  the  account  of  those,  who  are  wis^, 
learned  and  prudent  in  their  own  eyes.* 
Secondly,  that  the  most  exalted  saints  need 
TV  fresh  manifestation  of  the  glory,  love,  and 
presence  of  Christ,  that  they  may  depart 
this  life  in  the  triumph  of  faith. 

If  you  object,  that  Stephen  was  thus  fa- 
voured, because  he  was  about  to  suffer  for 
Christ,  and,  that  it  would  be  great  presump- 
tion to  expect  the  like  support,  I  reply,  in 
the  five  following  observations.  1.  We  are 
called  to  suffer  for  Christ  as  well  as  Stephen, 
though  perhaps  not  in  the  same  manner  and 
degree.  2.  We  often  need  as  much  support 
from  Christ,  to  stand  against  the  Children 
of  men  that  are  set  on  fire,  whose  teeth  are 
spears  and  arrows,  and  their  tongues  a 
sharp  sword ;  and  to  quench  the  fiery  darts 
of  the  devil,  as  the  mart}T  did  to  stand  a 
shower  of  stones.  3.  It  is  perhaps  as  hard 
to  be  racked  with  the  gout,  or  to  burn  sev- 
eral days  in  a  fever  on  a  sick  bed,  as  f  ou 
or  I  may  be  forced  to  do,  as  to  be  for  a  few 

*  Reader,  if  this  appear  so  to  thee,  thou  hast  need 
of  better  teaching^. 


IfQ  SPIRITUAL  MA^%ESTAT^ON. 

minutes  with  Shadrach  and  his  companions 
in  a  burning  furnace,  or  to  feel  for  a  fleet- 
ing moment  the  anguish  of  bruised  flesh 
and  a  fractured  skull,  with  our  triumphant 
martyr.  No  one  knows,  what  pangs  of  body 
and  agonies  of  soul  may  accompany  him 
through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
If  our  Lord  himself  was  not  above  being 
strengthened  by  an  angel  that  appeared  to 
him  from  heaven,  surely  it  is  no  enthusiasm 
to  say,  that  such  feeble  creatui*es  as  we  are, 
stand  in  need  of  a  divine  manifestation,  to 
enable  us  to  fight  our  last  battle  manfully, 
and  to  come  off  more  than  conquerors.  4. 
We  betray  unbelief,  if  we  suppose,  that 
Christ  cannot  do  for  us  what  he  did  for 
Stephen ;  and  we  betray  our  presumption, 
if  we  say,  zue  want  not  the  assistance, 
which  this  bold  champion  stood  in  need  of. 
5.  The  language  of  our  church  is  far  differ- 
ent :  "  Grant,"  says  she,  in  her  collect  for 
that  saint's  day,  "  O  Lord,  that  in  all  our 
sufferings  here  on  earth  for  the  testimony 
of  thy  truth,  we  may  steadfastly  look  up  to 
heaven,  and,  by  faith,  behqld  the  glory  that 
shall  be  revealed ;  and,  hem^  Ji lied  with,  the 
Holy  Ghost,  may  learn  to  love  and  bless 
our  persecutors,  by  the  example  of  thy  first 
martyr,  St.  Stephen,  who  prayed  for .  his 
murderers,  '  O  blessed  Jesus,  who  stand- 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  l^^' 

^st  at  the  right  hand  of  God  to  succour  all 
those,  who  suffer  for  thee." 

You  see,  Sir,  that  I  have  the  suffrage  of 
the  Church  of  England ;  and  yours  too,  if 
you  do  not  renounce  our  excellent  liturgy  ; 
so  that,  if  I  am  an  enthusiast  for  expecting 
to  be  Jilled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  by 
faith  to  behold  the  glory  that  shall  be  re- 
vealed, as  well  as  St.  Stephen,  I  am  coun- 
tenanced by  a  multitude  of  the  best  and 
greatest  men  in  the  world. 

But  suppose  you  reject  the  testimony  of 
St.  Stephen,  and  of  all  our  Clergy  (when 
in  the  desk)  touching  the  reality  and  the 
necessity  too  of  our  Lord's  manifesting 
himself  on  earth,  after  his  ascension  into 
heaven,  receive  at  least  that  of  St.  Luke 
and  St.  Paul.  They  both  inform  us,  that 
"  as  Saul  of  Tarsus  went  to  Damascus, 
the  Lord,  even  Jesus,  appeared  to  him  in 
the  way."  Suddenly  there  shone  a  light 
from  heaven  above  the  brightness  of  the 
sun,  so  that  he  fell  to  the  earth,  and  heard 
a  voice,  saying,  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest 
thou  me  ?  xlnd  he  said,  who  art  thou  Lord  ? 
And  the  Lord  said,  I  am  Jesus,  whom 
thou  persecutest.  So  powerful  was  the  ef- 
fect of  this  manifestation  of  Christ,  that  the 
sinner  was   turned  into  a   saint,  and  the 


178         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

fierce,  blaspheming  persecutor,  into  a  weep- 
ing, praying  apostle. 

Methinks  I  hear  you  say.  True,  into  an 
apostle ;  but  are  we  called  to  be  apostles  I 
No,  Sir,  but  we  are  called  to  be  christians — 
to  be  converted  from  sin  to  holiness,  and 
from  the  kingdom  of  darkness  to  the  king- 
dom of  God's  dear  Son.  St.  Paul's  call 
to  the  apostleship  is  nothing  to  his  being 
v/iade  a  child  of  God.  Judas  was  a  Chris- 
tian by  profession,  an  apostle  by  call,  and 
a  devil  by  nature.  And  what  is  Judas  in 
his  own  place  to  the  meanest  of  God's  chil- 
dren?— ^to  poor  Lazarus  in  Abraham's 
bosom  ?  All,  who  go  to  heaven,  are  first 
turned  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God.  This  turn- 
ing sometimes  begins  by  a, manifestation  of 
Christ;  witness  the  authentic  account  of 
Colonel  Gardner's  conversion,  published 
"by  his  judicious  friend  Dr.  Doddridge  ;  and 
the  more  autlientic  one  of  our  apostle's  con- 
version, recorded  three  times  by  St.  Luke. 
And  1  dare  advance  upon  the  authority  of 
one  greater  than.  St.  Luke,  that  no  one's 
conversion  ever  was  completed  without  the 
revelation  of  the  Son  of  God  to  his  heart.^ 
\  am  the  way  and  the  door,  says  Jesus,  no 

*  Reader!  believest  thou  this  ? 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.       1/9 

man  cometh  to  the  Father  but  by  me. 
Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  ye  ends 
of  the  earth.  Our  lookmg  to  him  for  sal- 
vation would  be  to  as  little  purpose,  was  he 
not  to  manifest  himself  to  us,  as  our  look- 
ing towards  the  east  for  light,  if  the  sun 
were  not  to  rise  upon  us. 

The  revelation  of  Christ,  productive  of 
St.  Paul's  conversion,  was  not  the  only  one 
with  which  the  apostle  was  favoured.  "  At 
Corinth  the  Lord  encouraged  and  spake  to 
him  in  the  night  by  a  vision.  Be  not  afraid 
but  speak  and  hold  not  thy  peace  ;  for  I  am 
with  thee,  and  no  man  shall  hurt  thee."  On 
another  occasion,  to  wean  him  more  from 
earth,  Christ  favoured  him  with  the  near- 
est views  of  heaven.  "  I  knew  a  man  in 
Christ,  says  he,  whether  in  the  body  or  out 
of  the  body,  I  cannot  tell,  who  was  caught 
up  into  the  third  heaven  into  paradise,  and 
heard  words,  which  it  is  not  possible  for 
man  to  utter."  And  he  informs  us  farther, 
that  lest  he  should  be  exalted  above  mea- 
sure through  the  abundance  of  the  revela- 
tions, a  messenger  of  Satan  was  suffered  to 
buffet  him.  When  he  had  been  brought 
before  the  Sanhedrim  for  preaching  the 
gospel,  St.  Luke  informs  us,  that  "  the 
night  following,  the  Lord  stood  by  him, 
2lnd  said,  be  of  good  cheer,  Paul;  for  a$" 


180       SPHIITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

thou  hast  testified  of  me  in  Jerusalem,  s© 
must  thou  bear  witness  also  at  Rome."  The 
ship,  in  which  he  sailed,  being  endangered 
by  a  storm,  there  stood  by  him,  "  the  angel 
of  God,  whose  he  was,  and  whom  he  serv- 
ed, saying,  Fear  not,  Paul,  &c." 

St.  Paul  was  not  the  only  one  to  whom 
Christ  manifested  himself  in  this  familiar 
manner.  Ananias  of  Damascus  was  neither 
an  apostle,  nor  a  deacon  ;  nevertheless,  to 
him  "  said  the  Lord  in  a  visio?iy  Ananias. 
And  he  said,  Behold,  I  am  here.  Lord;  and 
the  Lord  said.  Arise,  and  go  into  the  street, 
which  is  called  Straight,  and  enquire  in  the 
house  of  Judas  for  one  called  Saul  of  Tar- 
sus ;  for  behold  he  prayeth."  In  like  man- 
ner Philip  was  directed  to  go  near  and  join 
himself  to  the  Eunuch's  chariot.  And  St. 
Peter  being  informed,  that  three  men  sought 
him,  Arise,  said  the  Lord,  and  go  with 
them,  doubting  nothing,  for  I  have  sent 
them. 

Whether  we  place  these  manifestations 
in  the  class  of  the  extraordinary,  or  of  the 
mixt  ones,  we  equally  learn  from  them, 
1st,  That  the  Lord  Jesus  revealed  himself 
as  much  after  his  ascension  as  he  did  before, 
2dly,  That  if  he  does  it  to  send  his  ser- 
vants with  a  gospel  message  to  particular 
persons,  he  will  do  it  much  more  to  make 


SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION.  fSl 

that  message  effectual,  and  to  bring  salva- 
tion to  those  who  wait  for  him. 

As  for  the  revelations  of  Christ  to  St. 
John,  they  were  so  many,  that  the  last  book 
of  the  New  Testament  is  called  the  Revela- 
tion, as  containing  chiefty  an  account  of 
them.  "  I  was  in  the  spirit  on  the  Lord's 
day,  says  the  apostle ;  and  I  heard  behind 
me  a  great  voice,  as  of  a  trumpet  saying,  I 
am  the  first  and  the  last.  I  turned  to  see 
the  voice,  that  spake  with  me,  and  I  saw 
one  like  unto  the  Son  of  man,  clothed  with 
a  garment  down  to  the  foot,  and  girt  with 
a  golden  girdle.  His  head  and  hair  were  as 
white  as  snow,  and  his  eyes  as  a  flame  of  fire, 
his  feet  like  unto  fine  brass  burning  in  a 
furnace,  his  voice  as  the  sound  of  many 
waters,  and  his  countenance  as  the  sun 
shining  in  his  strength.  "When  I  saw  him, 
I  fell  at  his  feet  as  dead ;  and  he  laid  his 
hand  upon  me,  saying.  Fear  not,  I  am  the 
first  and  the  last.  I  am  he,  that  liveth  and 
was  dead,  and  behold,  I  am  alive  for  ever- 
more ;  and  have  the  keys  of  hell  and  deatli. 
Write  the  things  which  are  and  shall  be," 
One  of  the  things,  which  our  Lord  com- 
manded John  to  write,  is  a  most  glorious 
promise^  that  he  stands  at  the  door  of  the 
human  hearty  ready  to  manifest  himself 
even  to  poor  lukewarm  Laodiceans;  and 


182         SPIRITUAL  MANIFESTATION. 

that,  if  any  man  hear  his  voice  and  open,i-i-' 
if  they  are  made  conscious  of  their  need  of 
him,  so  as  to  open  their  hearts  by  the  prayer 
of  faith,  he  will  come  in,  and  feast  them 
with  his  gracious  presence,  and  the  delici- 
ous fruits  of  his  blessed  Spirit.  Therefore 
the  most  extraordinary  of  all  the  revela- 
tions, that  of  St.  John  in  Patmos,  not  only 
shows,  that  the  manifestations  of  Christ  run 
parallel  to  the  canon  of  scripture^  but  also 
giv^s  a  peculiar  sanction  to  the  ordinary 
revelations  of  him,  for  which  I  contend. 

Having  thus  led  you  from  Genesis  to 
Revelations,  I  conclude  by  two  inferences, 
which  appear  to  me  undeniable.  The  first, 
that  it  is  evident  our  Lord  before  his  incar- 
nation, during  his  stay  on  earth,  and  after 
his  ascension  into  heaven,  hath  been  pleas- 
ed, in  a  variety  of  manners,  to  manifest 
himself  to  the  children  of  men,  both  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Church  in  general,  and  for 
the  conversion  of  sinners  and  the  establish- 
ment of  saints  in  particular.  Secondly,  that 
the  doctrine^  I  maintain^  is  as  old  as  Ada7n^ 
as  modern,  as  St,  Johny  the  last  of  the  in- 
spired rvriterSy  and  as  scriptural  as  the  Old 
and  New  Testament^  which  is  what  I 
ivanted  to  demonstrate^    I  am,  Sir,  Scc< 


(     183     ) 
CONCLUSION. 

SUCH,  reader,  was  the  language  of  tiiat 
great,  good,  and  wise  man,  John  Fletcher, 
when  he  was  yet  but  a  young  man  in  years, 
and  a  child  in  grace.  All  his  after  experi- 
ence, as  has  been  manifested  in  his  various 
writings,  tend  more  and  more  to  convince 
us  of  the  divine  realities  of  all  these  things. 
Those  who  are  curious  to  see  this  subject 
still  further  extended  and  enlarged  upon, 
may  gratify  themselves  in  the  perusal  of 
Pearson  "  on  the  Creed"-^It  conveys  a 
death  stroke  to  all  tmptyfor?nal  Religion. 

The  reader  too,  will  do  well  to  remem- 
ber how  eloquently  both  Cowper  and  Young 
have  written  upon  this  subject.  The  latter, 
as  if  in  bitterness  at  the  blindness  and  folly 
of  his  formal-professing  readers,  exclaims, 

*'0,  ye  cold-hearted,  (rozen  foi^naUsts  ! 
On  mch  a  theme,  'tis  impious  to  be  calm : 
Passion,  is  reason  ;  transport,  temper  here. 
Shall  Heav'n,  which  ^ave  us  ardour,  and  has  shown 
Her  oTVJi  for  man  so  strongly,  not  disdain 
What  smooth  emollients  in  Theology, 
Recumbent- r/rf zi^'s-downy-doctors^  preach  ;r— 
Thzl  prose  of  piety,  a  Ivheivarm  praise  ! 
Ilise  odours  sweet  from  incense  vninflam'd  ? 
Devotion,  when  Ivke^vnrm,  is  umdevout ; 
But  when  it^lows,  its  heat,  is  struck  to  H«av*n  ; 
To  human  hearts  the  golden  harps  are  strung  ; 
High  Heav'n's  orchestra  chaunts  amen  to  man" 


PART  III. 


^2 


EXEMPLIFICATION 


OF    THE 


INFLUENCE  AND  POWER  OF  RELIGION 


Contrasted  Lives  and  Deaths' 


OS 


SAINTS  AND  SINNERS 


INTRODUCTION 


INFLUENCE  AND  POWER  OF  RELIGION, 

THE  reader,  who  has  bestowed  his  attention  thus 
far,  has,  no  doubt,  discovered  that  the  Scriptures 
do  really  teach  the  doctrine  of  the  "  Manifestation  of 
The  Spirit,"  and  that  men  can,  and  do,  know,  that  they 
have,  through  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  a  sensible, 
perceptible,  intercourse  with  an  rmseen  God.  It  now 
only  remains  to  confirm  this  doctrine,  by  \\\»X  further 
evidence  which  results  from  the  declarations,  expe- 
riences, and  conduct  of  those  who  have  lived  and 
died  under  its  influence.  To  illustrate  this  import- 
ant truth,  the  life,  death,  and  general  testimony  of 
Cliristians  are  adduced  :  and  as  a  contrast  to  these,.... 
the  life,  remorse,  and  death  of  distinguished  Infidels 
are  given.  The  names  selected  for  this  purpose,  are 
such  as  are  most  generally  known.  As  death  scenes 
are  best  calculated  to  develope  the  real  character  of 
the  man,  so  most  of  the  characters  chosen,  strongly 
pourtray  the  good  man's  hope,  or  the  bad  man's 
fear.  The  truth,  if  ever,  is  then  made  manifest  : 
*'  Fools  men  may  live,  but  fools  they  cawTio^  die".  The 
hour  of  death  is  a  solemn  time,  when  the  soundness 
of  principles  can  be  best  estimated  by  their  result. 
\V  hilst  the  Christian  goes  off  in  triumph ;  the  Infidel 
sighs  out  his  last,  in  bitterest  reflections,  or  in  dis- 
tracting despairl  The  Christian  has  a  preterrMtural 


cxc  INTRODUCTION. 

hope  of  heaven,  and  a  real  consciousness  of  prer^ent 
hi^ppiness,  even  though  his  body  be  in  pain ;  while 
the  D^ist,  if  not  in  miserable  ravings,  has,  at  best, 
a  misplaced  "heroic  want  of  thought,"  or  an  ill-timed 
affectation  of  indifference,  like  Gibbon  and  Hume.  If 
he  has  not  these,  he  either  feigns  levity,  like  Dide- 
rot ;  or  cherishes  a  vain  ostentation,  like  Rosseau. 
The  best  actions  of  the  most  philosophic  Infidels 
have  been  no  more  than  apathy. 

But  even  granting  that  some  Deists,  through 
**  hardness  of  heart"  haxG  really  encountered  death 
without  concern  ;  still  the  comparison  must  utterly 
fail,  when  we  challenge  Unbelievers  to  bring  one 
solitary  instance  of  a  Deist  who  was  ever  desirous  to 
dicy  that  he  might  enjoy  the  retuard  of  his  good  ileeds : 
But  Christians  wc  see,  ^' long  \o  depart,"  and  re- 
ceive theia*  expected  "  immortal  crown."  Again, 
while  none,  on  the  one  hand,  ever  lament  a  loss  of 
time  in  practising  the  good  works  required  by  the 
Gospel,  so  none,  on  the  other  hand,  have  ever  rejoic- 
ed  in  the  contemplation  of  their  success  in  rooting 
out  supposed  error,  or  in  implanting  the  germ  ot' 
their  baleful  Infidelity. 

This  evident  differeiice  in  times  "which  try  men's 
souls,"  asks  the  understandings  and  consciences  of 
men,  with  a  voice  as  alarming  as  a  Spirit's  risen 
from  the  dead,  -why  these  things  are  so  ?  There  is 
a  Cause  :  and  that  cause,  is  the  effect  of  Religion.* 
Those  who  bear  this  testimony,  know  in  themselves 
•tliat  Religion  is  true — Besides,  they  have  been  in 

*  "  Tell,  if  thou  knowest,  why  conscience  acts 
With  tenfold  force,  when  sickness,  age,  or  pain 
Stands  tott'ring  on  the  precipice  of  death  ? 
Or  why  such  horror  gnaios  the  guilty  soul 
Of  dying  sinners,  while  the  good  man  sleeps 
Peaceful  and  calm;  and  with  a  smile  expires  ?" 

Dr.  Glvnn' 


INTRODUCTION.  cxcl 

tiis  secret  of  Sin,  and  have  therefore  tivo  sides  of 
comparison  in  themselves,  whilst  the  unreg-enerate, 
know  only  their  own,.. ..one  dark  side. 

Reader,  behold  the  following  Examples,  and  de- 
termine as  you  shall  answer  hereafter  before  God, 
which  are  the  lives  and  deaths,  you  would  chuse  to 
be  yours.  An  ancient  sinner  beholding-  tlie  ways  of 
the  li.^hteous,  could  not  forbear  to  exclaim,  "  may  I 
die  the  death  of  the  rig-liteous,  and  may  my  last  end 
be  like  his !" 


EXAMPLES 

Of  the  happiness  and  reality  of  Religion^  as 
exemplified  in  the  conducty  declarations^  lives, 
and  deaths  of  Christians. 

**  The  chamber  where  the  good-man  meets  his  fate, 

Is  privileg-'d  beyond  the  common  walk 

Of  virtuous  life, quite  in  the  verge  of  heav'n." 


"  What  is  death,  that  I  shoukl  fear  it  ? 
I'o  die!  Avhy  it  is  to  triumph  ;  'tis  to  join 
The  great  assembly  of  the  good  and  just; 
Immortal  worthies,  heroes,  prophets,  saints  \ 
'Tis  to  behold,  oh,  rapture  to  conceive ! 
Those  we  have  known,  and  lov'd,  and  lost  below  ! 

— who  would  not  die  for  this? 

A\  ho  would  not  die,  that  they  might  live  for  ever  P' 


Rev.  JOHN  JANEWAY. 

IF  :tv^x.  mortal  lived  the  life  of  an  angel 
upon  earth,  (says  Simpson)  Janeway  seems 
to  have  been  the  man.  Though  he  had  at 
an  early  age  run  the  round  of  human  learn- 
ing, he  could  say  of  it,  (though  he  had  no 
wish  to  disparage  it,)  "  all  this  I  count 
but  dung  and  dross,  in  comparison  of  the 
more  excellent  knowledge  of  Christ,  and 
him  ci^uciiied."  Though  but  young  wh^n 
li 


194  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

he  died  (in  1757,)  he  had  learned  miich, 
and  studied  deep,  in  the  school  of  his 
adored  master.  During  the  greater  part 
of  his  illness  he  talked  as  if  he  had  been 
in  the  third  Heavens  :  breaking  out,  every 
liow  and  then  into  ectacies  of  joy  and 
praise.  At  one  time  he  said :  "  Come 
look  upon  a  dying  man  and  wonder!  Was 
there  ever  greater  kindness  ?  "Were  there 
ever  more  sensible  manifestations  of  rich 
graee  ?  Why  me.  Lord  ?  Why  me  I  Sure 
this  is  a  kin  to  Heaven.  If  I  were  never 
to  enjoy  more  than  this,  it  were  well  worth 
all  the  torments  men  and  devils  could  invent. 
If  this  is  dying,  dying'  is  szveet.  Christ's 
arms,  his  smiles,  and  visits ;  sure  they 
would  turn  hell  into  lieaven  t  Oh !  that 
you  did  but  see  and  feel  what  I  do  !  Come 
and  behold  a  dying  man,  7nore  cheerful 
than  ev6r  yoit  -s'aw,  any  healthful,  man  in 
the  midst  of  his  sxveetest  enjoyments  !  Ah, 
why  should  any  of  you  be  so  ^d^/,  whfen  I 
am  so  glad  !'^^ 

-  *  After  such  raptnroits  exprcssions  as  these,  and 
the  sober  appeal  to  the  eyes,  earsj  and  senses  of  men, 
which  is  made  immediately  following',  by  Halybur- 
ton,  how  is  it  that  men  of  sense,  and  soi  disant  philo- 
sophers, will  still  discredit  their  testimony  ?  Surely 
the  recipient  of  pleasure  or  pain  is  himself  the  best, 
and  indeed  only  competent  judge  of  its  effect  an,d 
deg^ree.  To  say,  such  men  arc  cnthusic^iit  and/arjc- 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  1 95 

A  little  before  his  dissolution  he  again 
said,  "  Come  let  us  lift  our  voices  in  praise. 
— It  is  now  my  work. — I  have  done  with 
prayer^  and  almost  done  conversing  with 
mortals. — In  a  few  hours  I  shall  be  in  eter- 
nity, singing  the  song  of  Moses,  and  the 
song  of  the  Lamb.  1  shall  hear  the  voice  of 
much  people ;  and  be  one  amongst  them 
who  say. — Hallelujah !  salvation,  glory,  and 
honour,  and  power  unto  the  Lord  our 
God !  Who,  (exclaims  he,)  can  choose  but 
rejoice  in  all  this  !" 

In  this  rapturous  frame  he  continued  full 
of  joy  and  admiration,  'till  he  expired. 

HALYBURTON, 

Professor  of  Divinity,  in  the  college  of  St. 
Andrews,  bom  in  1674,  died  in  1712.  His 
memoirs  written  by  himself,  have  long  been 
held  in  the  highest  estimation  in  the  Chris- 
tian world.  They  were  so  much  esteemed 
for  their  usefulness,  by  Dr.  Watt's,  as  to 
have  received  a  very  large  recommendatory 
epistle  from  his  pen.  He  died  as  he  lived, 
in  the  full    comfort  and  confidence  of  his 

ticy  when  they  make  -n'llls  and  other  sane  acts,  obli- 
g-atory  in  law,  (the  g-iuirdian  of  right)  is  making-  the 
objector,  as  ivild  an  observer  as  ever  offered  insans 
opinions  to  sane  men. 


196  exemplification: 

God— When  on  his  death  bed,  he  said  to  a 
friend,  *■'•  1  have  fought  the  good  fight ;  I 
have  kept  the  faith.  The  Lord  hath  filled 
my  mouth  with  a  new  song.  I  shall  shortly 
get  a  different  sight  of  God  from  what  I 
have  ever  had.  'I'he  thoughts  of  an  incarnate 
God  are  sweet  imd  ravishing/  And  Oh  ! 
how  I  wonder  that  I  do  not  love  him  more  I 
I  bless  the  Lord,  1  have  seen  that  holiness 
yields  peace  and  comfort^'*  He  then  said, — 
"  here  is  a  demonstration  of  the  reality  and 
power  of  faith  and  godliness  !  I,  a  poor, 
weak,  and  timorous  man,  once  as  much 
afraid  of  death  as  any  one;  I  who  was 
many  years  under  the  terrors  of  death, 
come,  in  the  mercy  of  God,  and  by  the 
power  of  his  grace,  composedly  and  with 
joy  to  look  death  in  the  face.  O,  Sirs,  I 
could  not  have  believed  that  I  should  bear, 
and  bear  cheerfully,  as  1  have  done,  this 
rod  which  hath  lain  on  me  so  long.  This 
is  a  miracle  :  pain  without  pain  !  and  this 
is  not  the  fancy  of  a  man  disordered,  but 
of  one  who  is  fully  composed.  I  know 
that  a  great  deal  of  what  is  said  by  a  dying 
man  will  pass  for  canting  and  raving  :  But 
I  bless  God,  he  hath  so  preserved  the  little 
judgment  I  had,  that  I  have  been  able  to 
reflect  with  composure  on  his  dealings  with 
me.     I  am  sober  and  composed,  if  ever 


exe:m  plific  ation  1 9  r 

I  was  sober.  And  "  whether  men  will  for- 
bear, or  whether  they  will  hear,"  this  is  a 
testimony.  The  death  of  the  saints  is  made 
a  derision  in  our  day  ;  But  if  i  am  laughed 
at,  1  can  laugh  again — "  A  few  moments 
before  his  end,  when  unable  to  speak^  being 
asked  if  he  encouraged  himself  still  in  the 
Lord,  he  raised  his  feeble  hands,  and  clapped 
them  and  expired  !  Such  was  the  end  of  a 
Saint. 

TOPLADY 

Was  supported  with  divine  consolations 
-during  his  last  sickness.  A  few  days  be- 
fore his  death  he  said  to  a  friend,  "  It  is 
impossible  to  describe  how  good  God  is  to 
me.  This  afternoon  I  have  enjoyed  such  a 
season,  such  sweet  communion  with  God, 
and  such  delightful  manifestations  of  his 
presence  with,  and  love  to  my  soul,  that  it  is 
impossible  for  words,  or  any  language  to 
express  them.  1  have  had  peace  and  joy 
unutterable.  The  comforts  and  manifesta- 
tions of  God's  love  are  so  abundant,  as  to 
render  my  state  and  condition  the  most  de^ 
sirable  in  the  world.  I  would  not  exchange 
my  condition  with  any  one  upon  earth." 

The  same  friend  calling  upon  him  a  day 
or  two  before  his  death,  he  said,  with  hands 
R  2 


198  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

clasped,  and  his  eyes  lifted  up  and  starting 
with  tears  of  the  most  evident  joy  :  "  I  can- 
not tell  you  the  comforts  I  feel  in  my  soul. 
They  are  past  expression.  The  consolations 
of  God  to  such  an  unworthy  wretch  are  so 
abvuidant,  that  he  leaves  me  nothing  to  pray 
for,  but  a  continuance  of  them.  I  enjoy  a 
heaven  already  in  my  soul.  My  prayers 
are  all  converted  into  praise.- 

"  O  how  this  soul  of  mine  longs  to  be 
gone !  Like  a  bird  imprisoned  in  a  cage,  it 
longs  to  take  its  flight.  O  that  I  had  wings 
like  a  dove,  then  would  I  flee  away  to  the 
realms  of  bliss,  and  be  at  rest  for  ever !  O 
that  some  guardian  angel  might  be  commis- 
sioned ;  for  I  long  to  be  absent  from  this 
body,  and  to  be  with  my  Lord  for  ever. 

''  O  what  a  day  of  sun-shine  has  this 
been  to  me !  I  have  not  words  to  express  it. 
It  is  unutterable.  O,  my  friends,  how  good 
is  God!  Almost  wiihout  interruption  his 
presence  has  been  with  me. 

''  O  what  delights  !  Who  can  fathom  the 
joys  of  the  third  heaven  ?  The  sky  is  clear ; 
there  is  no  cloud ;  come,  Lord  Jesus,  come 
quickl}'." 


LXExMPLIFiCATION.  199 

Rev.  JOHN  WESLEY. 

The  life  of  this  great  apostle  of  Metho- 
dism has  been  written  by  Dr.  Whitehead, 
as  well  as  by  Dr.  Coke  and  Mr.  Moore. 
Friends  and  foes  agree  that  he  was  the  most 
cxti'aordinary  character  of  modern  times  ; 
whether  we  regard  him  as  a  scholar  pos- 
sessed of  various  talents,  or  as  a  saint  en- 
lightened by  grace,  and  stimulated  by  pious 
zeal.  After  a  wellspent  life  of  88  years, 
more  than  60  of  which  were  most  usefully 
employed  in  the  public  ministry,  the  bene- 
fits of  which  will  even  be  felt  by  genera- 
tions yet  unborn,  he  died  as  became  his 
saint-like  character.  When  he  came  to  be 
upon  his  dying  bed,  and  was  so  weak  as  to 
be  scarce  able  to  speak,  his  desire  to  his 
friends  around  him,  was,  that  they  should 
**  pray  and  praise."     He  even  feebly  sang 

**I*11  praise  my  maker  while  Vve  breath. 
And  when  my  voice  is  lost  hi  death. 
Praise  shall  employ  my  vobler  powers.'* 

After  this,  endeavouring  to  say  something 
to  those  near  him,  which  they  could  not 
comprehend,  he  paused  a  little  as  conscious 
of  his  inability  to  be  understood,  and  then 
with  his  utmost  energ)'  exclaimed — '*•  I'he 
best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us"  !  and  again 
lifting  his  hands  with  increased  emphasis. 


200  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

he  on(;e  more  repeated  the  "best  of  all  is, 
God  is  with  us"  !  Soon  after  he  articula- 
ted the  word  "Farewell,"  and  expired 
without  a  groan,  or  the  slightest  token  of 
pain.  , 

His  last  words,  ("  God  is  with  us" !) 
have  been  considered  so  prophetic^  as  weU 
as  characteristic  of  the  subsequent  success- 
ful spread  of  his  Religious  principles,  as 
to  have  given  idea  to  the  inscription  on  the 
society's  official  seal,  the  motto  of  which  is, 
"  God  is  with  us"  ! 

This  circumstance  has  given  occasion  to 
one  to  observe,  that  when  the  patriarch  Jo- 
seph was  about  to  expire,  he  said,  "  I  die, 
but  God  shall  be  with  you  :  but  the  patri- 
arch Wesley's  words  were,  "  The  best  of 
all  is,  God /y  with  us"! 

Rev.  JOHN  FLETCHER, 

A  native  of  Geneva,  and  many  years  Vicar 
of  Madeley,  (born  in  1729,  and  died  in 
1785)  has  been  greatly  distinguished  in  the 
Christian  world  as  a  peculiarly  acute  writer 
in  polemic  divinity ;  but  above  all,  as  possess- 
ing the  deepest  communion  with  God,  and 
the  highest  measure  of  inward  holiness,  that 
has  distinguished  any  modern  Saint.  From 
the   aspiring  disposition  of  a  soldier^  to 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  201 

which  life  he  hnd  originally  intended  to 
devote  himself,  he  became  the  most  extra- 
ordinary example  of  hiimilttif.  By  nature 
of  a  fiery  and  passionate  spirit,  he  became 
meek^  like  his  master,  as  well  as  ioxviif  in 
heart.  In  short,  through  the  power  of 
divine  grace,  he  became  "  blameless  and 
harmless,  a  Son  of  God,  without  rebuke^ 
in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  a  perverse 
generation*,  shining  among  them  as  a  light 
in  the  world."  Such  a  one,  was  prepared 
to  meet  his  reward  with  joy.  Accordingly 
we  find  him  welcoming  death's  embrace 
with  Christian  triumph.  We  are  indebted 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gilpin,  Vicar  of  Wrock- 
wardine,  for  some  notice  of  his  dissplution. 
"  He  appeared  (says  he)  a  few  days  beforp 
his  death,  to  have  reached  that  desirable 
point,  where  the  last  rapturous  discoveries 
are  rnade  to  the  souls  of  dying  saints. 
Roused  as  it  were  with  the  shouts  of  angels, 
and  kindled  into  rapture  with  visions  of 
glory,  he  broke  into  a  song  of  holy  triumph, 
which  began  and  ended  with  the  praises  of 
God's  unfathomable  love.  He  laboured 
to  declare  the  secret  manifestations  he  en- 
joyed, but  his  sensations  were  too  power- 
ful for  utterance  ;  and  after  locking  inex^ 
pressible  things,  he  contented  himself  with 
calling  upon  all  .around  him,  to  celebrate 


202  EXEMPLIFICATION- 

and  shout  that  adorable  love,  which  can 
never  bd  faily  comprehended,  nor  adequate- 
ly, expressed.  While  he  could  speed,  he 
spake  as  one  whose  Hps  had  been  touched 
with  a  live  coal  front  the  altar  ;  arid  wh«n 
deprived  of  that  power,  his  countcnaiice 
discovered  that  he  was  sweetly  engaged  in 
the  contemplation  of  heavenly  things." 

Rev.  SAMUEL  PIERCE,         ; 

Who,  next  to  the  celebrated  Dr.  Gill,  wAs 
^mong  the  most  conspicuous  characters  in 
the  Baptist  Society,  has  most  deservedly 
had  his  memoirs  preserved  for  our  edifica- 
tion and  Chistian  comfort,  by  Dr.  Full6rl 
When  this  laborious  and  highly  useful  sei!<- 
vant  of  the  Most  High,  came  to  give  an 
account  of  his  stewardship,  he  could  re- 
joice in  the  pains  of  death.  He  was  eh^i- 
bled  to  say  to  a  friend — "This  sick  bed  is 
a  Bethel  to  me ;  it  is  notie  other  than  the 
house  of  God  and  the  ^.\\^  of  Heaven  !_  I 
can  scarcely  express  tlie  pleasures  thatTl 
have  enjoyed  in  this  aflliction.  The  near- 
er I  draw  to  my  dissolution  the.  happitv 
lam.  It  can  scarcely  be  called  ^h  affliKw 
tion,  it  is  so  counterbalanced  with  ^0?/.""  ^*  • 
So  true  it  is, 

•'  Jesus  can  make  a  dying-  bed 
FcqI  soft  as  downii  pillows  are.'* 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  203 

Rev.  SAMUEL  WALKER, 

Was  a  Tninister  of  no  ordinary  rank  in  the 
church  of  Christ.  His  excessive  labours 
speedily  ruined  his  constitution,  and  he 
died  at  the  age  of- forty-eight.  When  his 
dissolution!  drew  near,  after  much  former 
darkness,  but  the^  most  assured  confidence 
in  God,  he  broke  out  to  his  nurse  in  this 
rapturous  expression  : — "I  have  been  up- 
on the  wings  of  the  cherubim!  Heaven  has 
in  a  manner  been  opened  to  me  !  I  shall 
soon  be  there  !"— Next.day  to  a  friend  who 
came  to  see  him  he  said,  with  a  joy  in  his 
€Ountenance  more  than  words  can  utter  ; — 
*':0  had  I  strength  to  speak,  I  could  tell 
you  such  news  as  would  rejoice  your  very 
soul !  1  have  had  such  views  of  heaven  ! 
But  I  am  not  able  to  say  more."" 

HERVEY 

Was  an  excellent  scholar,  and  a  believer  in 
the  bible,  with  its  most  distinguishing  truths. 
When  he  apprehended  himself  to  be  near 
the  close  of  life,  and  stood,  as  it  were,  on 
the  brink  of  the  grave,  with  eternity  full  in 
view,  he  wrote  to  a  friend  at  a  distance  to 
tell  him  what  were  his  sentiments  in  that 
awful  situation.     "  I  have  been  too  fond,'' 


204-  EAillMPLIFICATIOX. 

said  h^t  ^*'  of  reading  every  thing  valuable 
and  elegant  that  has  been  penned  in  our 
language,  and  been  peculiarly  charmed  with 
the  historians,  orators,  and  poets  of  antiqui«« 
ty:  but  were  I  to  renew  my  studies,  1 
would  take  leave  of  tliose  accomplished 
trifles  ;  I  would  resign  the  delights  of  mod** 
em  wits,  amusement,  and  eloquence,  and 
devote  my  attention  to  the  scripture  of 
truth.  I  would  sit  with  much  greater  as- 
siduity at  my  divine  Master's  feet,  and  de- 
sire to  know  nothing  in  comparison  of  Je- 
sus Christ,  and  him  crucified." 

After  this,  when  his  dissolution  drew 
still  nearer,  he  said  to  them  about  him: — 
"  How  thankful  am  I  for  death  !  It  is  the 
passage  to  the  Lord  and  Giver  of  eternal 
life.— 'O  welcome,  welcome,  welcome 
death !  thou  mayest  well  be  reckoned  a- 
mong  the  treasures  of  the  christian  !  To 
live  is  Christ,  but  to  die  is  gain  !  Lord,  now 
lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace, 
according  to  thy  most  holy  and  comfortable 
word ;  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  pre- 
vious salvation.'' 

LEEGHMAlNr, 

Late  principal  of  the  college  of  Glasgow, 
at  the  close  of  his  life,  thus  addressed  the 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  ^OS 

son  of  a  worthy  nobleman,  who  was  design* 
ed  for  the  church,  and  the  early  part  of 
whose  education  had  been  much  under  the 
doctor's  eye: 

"  You  see  the  situation  I  am  in :  I  have 
not  many  days  to  live  :  I  am  glad  you  have 
had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  tran- 
quillity of  my  last  moments.  But  it  is  not 
tranquillity  and  composure  alone ;  it  is  joy 
and  triumph ;  it  is  complete  exultation."—* 
His  features  kindled,  his  voice  rose  as  he 
spoke.  "  And  whence,"  says  he,  *«  does 
this  exultation  spring? — From  that  book, 
pointing  to  a  bible  that  lay  on  the  table — 
from  that  book,  too  much  neglected  indeed, 
but  which  contains  invaluable  treasures! 
treasures  of  joy  and  rejoicing!  for  it  makes 
us  certain  chat  this  mortal  shall  put  on  im- 
mortality." 

GROTIUS, 

Possessed  the  brightest  genius  ever  re- 
corded of  a  youth  in  the  learned  world,  and 
was  a  profound  admirer,  and  a  daily  rea- 
der, of  the  sacred  writings ;  yet  after  all  his 
attainments,  reputation,  and  labour  in  the 
cause  of  learning,  he  was  constrained  at  last 
to  cry  out,  "  Ah !  I  have  consumed  my  life 
io  a  laborious  doing  of  nothing !— ^I  would 


206  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

give  all  my  learning  and  honour  for  the 
plain  integrity  of  John  Urick  ! 

This  John  Urick  was  a  religious  poor 
man,  who  spent  eight  hours  of  the  day  in 
prayer,  eight  in  labour,  and  but  eight  in 
meals,  sleep,  and  other  necessaries.* 

Grotius  had  devoted  too  much  of  his 
time  to  worldly  company,  secular  business, 
and  learned  trifles ;  too  little  to  the  exercises 
of  the  closet.  This  is  forsaking  the  foun- 
tain of  living  waters,  and  hewing  out  to 
ourselves  broken  cisterns  that  can  hold  no 
water. 

ADDISON 

Was  a  very  able  and  elegant  advocate  for 
the  bible,  in  life  and  death.  Just  before  his 
departure,  having  sent  for  a  young  noble- 
man nearly  related  to  him,  who  requested 
to  know  his  dying  commands — his  answer 
was — "  See  in  what  peace  a  christian  can 
die!" 


*  Alfred,  king  of  England,  who  foug-ht  fifty-six 
batUes  witli  the  Danes,  many  of  which  were  gained 
by  his  own  personal  courage  and  great  example,  de- 
dicated, wiUi  strict  punctuality,  eight  hours  every 
d.iy  to  acts  of  devotion,  eight  hours  to  public  affairs, 
and  c  fl  many  to  slee^,  stlidy,  and  necessary  refresh- 
irent. 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  207 

He  spake  with  ditiiculty,  and  soon  ex- 
pired.— Through  grace  divine,  how  great 
is  man  !  Through  divine  mercy,  how  sting- 
less  is  death ! 

**  He  taught  us  how  to  live ;  and,  oh  ?  too  hig-h 
A  price  for  knowledg-e,  taug-ht  us  how  to  die." 


LELAND 


After  spending  a  long  and  exemplary  life 
in  the  service  of  the  gospel,  closed  it  with 
the  following  words  : — "I  give  my  dying 
testimony  to  the  truth  of  Christianity.  The 
promises  of  the  gospel  are  my  support  and 
consolation.  They,  alone  yield  me  satis- 
faction in  a  dying  hour  :  I  am  not  afraid 
to  die.  The  gospel  of  Christ  has  raised  me 
above  the  fear  of  death ;  for  I  know  that 
my  Redeemer  liveth." 

PASCAii  f 

Was  one  of  the  most  humble  and  devout  he^ 
lievers  in  Jesus  that  ever  lived.  Kayle  saith 
of..hi,5  lil-e,  that  *Van  hundred  volumes  of 
sermons  are  not  worth  so  much  as  this  sin- 
gle life,  and  are  far  less  capable  of  disarm- 
ing men  of  impiety.  The  extraordinaiy 
humijity  and  devotio^n  of  Pascal  gives  a 
mors  sensible  mortification  to  the  libertijies 


a^^  EXEMPLmCATION. 

of  the  age,  than  if  one  was  to  let  loose  up- 
on them  a  dozen  missionaries.  They  can 
now  no  longer  attack  us  with  their  favour- 
ite and  darling  objection,  that  there  are 
none  but  little  and  narrow  spirits,  who  pro- 
fess themselves  the  votaries  of  piety  and 
religion :  for  we  can  now  tell  them,  and 
boldly  tell  them,  that  both  the  maxims  and 
practice  thereof,  have  been  pushed  to  the 
strongest  degree,  and  carried  to  the  greatest 
height,  by  one  of  the  profoundest  geome- 
tricians, by  one  of  the  most  subtile  meta- 
physicians, and  by  one  of  the  most  solid 
and  penetrating  geniuses  that  ever  yet  ex- 
isted on  this  earth." 

"  This  great  man,  during  some  of  the 
latter  years  of  his  life,  spent  his  whole  time 
in  prayer,  and  reading  the  Holy  Scriptures; 
and  in  this  he  took  incredible  delight." 

LEIGHTON 

Was  a  most  exemplary  character,  both  in 
his  private  and  puF)lic  capacity.  The  life 
and  writings  of  few  men  are  more  worthy 
of  imitation  and  perusal.  He  laboured  hard 
to  bring  about  some  reformation  in  the  state 
of  things  in  his  own  day,  and  when  he 
found  all  his  ejfforts  ineffectaal,  he  quietly 
withdrew,   resigned   his   preferment,   and 


EXEMPLIFICATIOX.  209 

lived  in  private.  What  Burnet  says  of  him 
can  never  be  too  often  repeated,  and  too 
generally  known. — "  He  had  the  greatest 
elevation  of  soul,  the  largest  compass  of 
knowledge,  the  most  mortified  and  heaven- 
ly disposition,  that  I  ever  yet  saw  in  mortal. 
He  had  the  greatest  parts,  as  well  as  virtue, 
with  the  most  perfect  humility  that  I  ever 
saw  in  man ;  and  had  a  sublime  strain  in 
preaching,  with  so  grave  a  gesture,,  and 
such  a  majesty  both  of  thought,  of  language^ 
and  pronunciation,  that  I  never  once  saw 
a  wandering  eye  where  he  preached,  and  I 
have  seen  whole  assemblies  often  melt  in 
tears  before  him ;  and  of  whom  I  can  say 
with  great  truth,  that  in  a  free  and  frequent 
conversation  with  him  for  above  two  and 
twenty  years,  I  never  knew  him  to  say  an 
idle  word,  or  one  that  had  not  a  direct 
tendency  to  edification ;  and  I  never  once 
saw  him  in  any  other  temper,  but  that 
which  I  wished  to  be  in,  in  the  last  moments 
of  my  life.'' 

POCOCKE. 

Locke  gives  us  a  similar  account  of  Pococke. 
"  I  can  say  of  him  what  few  men  can  say 
of  any  friend  of  theirs,  nor  I  of  any  other 
of  my  acquaintance ;  that  I  do  not  remefli- 
s  2 


210  RXEMPUFICATION. 

ber  that  I  ever  saw  him  in  one  action,  that 
I  did,  or  could  in  my  own  mind  blame,  or 
thought  amiss  in  him." 

LAW. 

"When  Law  came  to  die,  he  seemed  to  en- 
joy the  fall  assurance  of  faith :  "  Away 
with  these  filthy  garments,"  said  the  expir- 
ing saint ;  "  I  feel  a  sacred  fire  kindled  in 
my  soul,  which  will  destroy  every  thing 
contrary  to  itself,  and  burn  as  a  flame  of 
divine  love  to  all  eternity." 

RALEIGH, 

One  of  the  most  illustrous  heroes  that  En- 
gland ever  bred,  a  man  equally  celebrated 
for  valour,  for  genius,  and  for  learning, 
was  not  ashamed  to  address  his  wife  in  the 
views  of  approaching  dissolution  in  the 
following  pious  strain  : — "  Love  God,  and 
begin  betimes.  In  him  you  shall  find  true, 
everlasting,  and  endless  comfort.  When 
you  have  travelled  and  wearied  yourself 
with  all  sorts  of  worldly  cogitations,  you 
shall  sit  down  by  sorrow  in  the  end.  Teach 
your  son  also  to  serve  and  fear  God  whilst 
he  is  young,  that  the  fear  of  God  may  grow 
up  m  him.     Thtn  will  God  be  an  husband 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  211 

to  you,  aiid  a  father  to  him ;  an  husband 
and  father  that  can  never  be  taken  from 
you." 

This  is  true  heroism!  Such  was  Sir 
Waher  Raleigh  ! 

LOCKE. 

For  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  he  appUed 
himself  closely  to  the  study  of  the  holy 
scriptures,  and  employed  the  last  period  of 
his  life  hardly  in  any  thing  beside.  He 
was  never  weary  of  admiring  the  grand 
views  of  that  sacred  book,  and  the  just 
relation  of  all  its  parts.  He  every  day 
made  discoveries  in  it,  that  gave  him  fresh 
cause  of  admiration.  And  so  earnest  was 
he  for  the  comfort  of  his  friends,  and  the 
diffusion  of  sacred  knowledge  among  them, 
that  even  the  day  before  he  died  he  very 
particularly  exhorted  all  about  him  to  read 
the  holy  scriptures,  exalting  the  love  which 
God  showed  to  man  in  justifying  him  by 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  returning  him 
special  thanks  for  having  called  him  to  the 
knowledge  of  that  Divine  Saviour.  To 
a  person  who  asked  him,  which  was  the 
shortest  and  surest  way  for  a  young  gen- 
tleman to  attain  to  the  true  knowledge  of 
the  christian  j^ligion,  in  the  full  and  just 


212  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

extent  of  it,  .he  replied — "  Let  hira  study 
the  holy  scripture,  especially  the  New  Tes- 
tament. Therein  are  contained  the  words 
of  eternal  life. — It  hath  God  for  its  au- 
thor— Salvation  for  its  end — and  Truth, 
without  any  mixture  of  error,  for  its  mat- 
ter." 

LOUIS, 

One  of  the  late  dukes  of  Orleans,  expressed 
the  delight  he  found  in  piety  and  devotion 
in  the  following  terms ;  "  i  know  by  ex- 
perience, that  sublunary  grandeur  and  sub- 
lunary pleasure  are  deceitful  and  vain,  and 
are  always  infinitely  below  the  conceptions 
we  form  of  them.  But,  on  the  contrary^ 
such  happiness  and  such  complacency  may 
be  found  in  devotion  and  piety,  as  the  sen- 
sual mind  has  no  idea  of." 

OLYMPIA  FULVIA  MOBATA, 

Was  one  of  the  earliest  and  brightest  orna- 
ments of  the  reformation.  She  could  de- 
claim in  Latin,  converse  in  Greek,  and 
was  a  critic  in  the  most  difficult  classicks. 
But  after  it  pleased  God,  by  his  grace,  to 
open  the  eyes  of  her  mind  to  discover  the 
truth,  she  became  enamoured  of  the  sacred 


iEXEMPLIFICATION.  2 1  a 

scriptures,  above  all  other  books  in  the 
world,  and  studied  them  by  day  and  by 
night.  And  when  dissolution  approached, 
she  declared  she  felt  nothing  but  "  an  inex- 
pressible tranquillit)'  and  peace  with  God 
through  Christ." — Her  mouth  was  full  of 
the  praises  of  God,  and  she  emphatically 
expressed  herself  by  saying — "  I  am  noth- 
ing but  joy." 

LORD  RIjSSEL 

Delivered  himself,  just  before  his  execu- 
tion, in  the  strongest  terms  of  faith  and 
confidence.  He  said  : — "  Neither  my  im- 
prisonment nor  fear  of  death  have  been 
able  to  discompose  me  in  any  degree.  On 
the  contrary  I  have  found  the  assurances 
of  the  love  and  mercy  of  God  in  and 
through  my  blessed  Redeemer ;  in  whom 
I  only  trust.  And  I  do  not  question  but 
I  am  going  to  partake  of  that  fullness  of 
joy,  which  is  in  his  presence  ;  the  hopes  of 
which  do  so  wonderfully  delight  me,  that 
I  think  this  is  the  happiest  time  of  my  life, 
though  others  may  look  upon  it  as  the 
saddest." 


2 1 4  EXEMPLIFIC  ATIOX, 


OXENSTIERN, 

Chancellor  of  Sweden,  was  one  of  the  most 
able  and  learned  men  of  his  time,  and  yet 
he  was  not  too  great  and  too  wise  to  be 
above  being  taught  by  the  sacred  writings. 
'*  After  all  my  troubles  and  toilings  in  the 
world,"  says' he,  "I  find  that  my  priv*ite 
life  in  the  country,  has  afforded  me  more 
contentment,  than  ever  I  met  with  in  all 
my  public  employments.  I  have  lately 
applied  myself  to  the  study  of  the  bible, 
wherein  all  wisdom,  and  the  greatest  de- 
lights are  to  be  found.  I  therefore  counsel 
you  to  make  the  study  and  practice  of  the 
word  of  God  your  chief  delight ;  as  indeed 
it  will  be  to  every  soul  that  savours  the 
truths  of  God,  which  infinitely  excel  all 
worldly  things.*' 

SELDEN, 

The  lawyer,  whom  Grotius  calls  "  the  glory 
of  the  English  nation,"  was,  as  Hale  de- 
clared, "  a  resolved  serious  christian,  and 
a  great  adversary  to  Hobbes's  errors."  .  He 
was  one  of  the  most  eminent  philosophers, 
and  most  learned  men  of  his  time.  He  had 
tiil>en    a  diligent  survey  of  all   kinds    of 


EXEMPLIFICATION*.  215 

learning,  and  had  read  as  much,  perhaps, 
as  any  man  ever  did ;  and  yet,  towards  the 
latter  end  of  his  days,  he  declared  to  Usher, 
that  notwithstanding  he  had  been  so  labo- 
rious in  his  inquiries,  and  curious  in  his 
collections,  and  had  possessed  himself  of  a 
treasure  of  books  and  manuscrips  upon  all 
ancient  subjects;  yet  "he  could  rest  his 
soul  on  none,  save  the  scriptures. '^ 

SIR  JOHN  MASON, 

On  his  death-bed,  said,  "  I  have  lived  to 
see  five  princes,  and  have  been  privy-coun- 
sellor to  four  of  them.  I  have  seen  the 
most  remarkable  things  in  foreign  parts, 
and  have  been  present  at  most  state  trans- 
actions for  thirty  years  together ;  and  I 
have  learnt  this  after  many  years  experi- 
ence— That  seriousness  is  the  greatest  wis- 
dom, temperence  .  the  best  physic,  and  a 
good  conscience  the  best  estate.  And, 
were  I  to  live  again,  I  would  change  the 
court  for  a  cloister,  my  privy-counsellor's 
bustle  for  a  hermit's  retirement,  and  the 
whole  life  I  have  lived  in  the  palace,  for  an 
hour's  enjoyment  of  God  in  the  chapel," 


216  ETXEMPLIFICAtlON- 

ROMAINE 

Was  a  zealous  and  successful  preacher  of 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  adorned  it 
by  a  suitable  character,  above  fifty  years. 
In  his  last  illness  not  one  fretful  or  murmur- 
ing word  ever  escaped  his  lips.  "  I  have," 
said  he,  "  the  peace  of  God  in  my  con- 
science, and  the  love  of  God  in  my  heart. 
I  knew  before  the  doctrines  I  preached  to 
be  truths,  but  now  I  experience  them  to  be 
blessings.  Jesus  is  more  precious  thaij^ 
rubies,  and  all  that  can  be  desired  on  the 
earth,  is  not  to  be  compared  to  him/'  He 
was  in  full  possession  of  his  mental  powers 
to  the  last  moment,  and  near  his  dissolution 
cried  out,  "  Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord  God 
Almighty !  Glory  be  to  thee  on  high,  for 
such  peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  to  men." 


These  Examples  could  have  been 
easily  increased  without  end.  They 
are  multiplying  in  every  age  and  in 
every  nation  in  Christendom.  Even 
in  these  United  States,  we  might,  were 
we  disposed  to  seek  them,  see,  week- 
ly, and  perhaps  daily  instances  of  like 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  217 

christian  assurance  and  triuhipli.  We 
will,  however,  add  the  bare  names  of 
some  few  other  distinguished  men  and 
women,  who  believed  in  the  christian 
Religion  and  adorned  the  Gospel  they 
professed  :  such  were  the  divines  New- 
combe,  Warburton,  Cotes,  Beveridge, 
Tillotson,  Burtler,  Bentley,  Lowman, 
Hales,  Baxter,  Lardn^r,  Robertson^ 
Doddridge,  Pearson,  Berkeley,  Sher* 
lock,  Taylor,  Clarke,  Barrow,  Usher, 
Chillingworth,  Wilkins,  Bochart,  Cud- 
worth,  Watts,  Hervey,  &c.  &c.  Such 
were  the  statesmen-,  Hyde,  Somers, 
Culien,  Pulteney,  Howard,  Harrington, 
King,  Barrington,  Littleton,  and  others, 
and  last,  though  not  less  esteemed,  our 
beloved  Washington  was  a  sincere  and 
serious  christian — Such  too,  were  the 
Poets,  Spencer,  Waller,  Cowley, 
Prior,  Thompson,  Gray,  Young,  Mil- 
tcHi,  Cowper,  &c.  So  also  were  the 
moralists,  Steele,  Hawkesworth,  John- 
son, &c. — also,  \ht  physicians,  Arbuth- 
not,  Cheyne,  Browne,  Boerhave,  Prin- 
gle,  Hartley,  Haller,  Mead,  Fothergill, 


218  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

&c. — ^ndlastly, Such  were  \k)ftlawy'ers^ 
Hale,  Melmoth,  Forbes,  Hailesy  Priitt^ 
Blackstone,  Jones,  kc. — not  to  omit 
the  philosophers^  Ray,  Cotes,  Fergu- 
son, Adams,  Euler,  Newton,  Boyle,  &c. 
Of  female  characters  we  name  Queen 
Catharme  Parr,  Queen  Mary,  Lady 
C.  Courten,  Lady  M.  Houghton,  Lady 
Cutts,  Lady  E.  Hastings,  Lady  M. 
Armyne,  Lady; A.  Halket,  Lady  Jane 
Gray,  Lady  Larigham,  Lady  E.  Brooke, 
Lady  M.  Vere,  Lady  GuioUj  Mrs.  C. 
Phillips,  Mrs.  L  Ratcliffe,  Mrs.  C. 
Bretterg,  Mrs.  A.  Baynard,  Mrs.  A. 
M.  Schurman,  Mrs.  E.  Bury,  Mrs.  E. 
Burnet,  Mrs.  E.  Rowe,  Mrs.  Carter. 


EXAMPLES 

of  the  cheerless,  and  even  wretched  nature  of  infi- 
delity, as  exemplified  in  the  life,  conduct,  dying 
sayings,  lind  death  of  thoug-hiless,  impenixeni  sin-: 
ners,  oi*  m  the  bitter  reflections  of  untimely  re- 
morse. Also,  in  the  dismay  and  anguish  of  those 
who  have  sti-ove  by  repentance  to  effuce  their 
conscious  .guilt,  or  have  been  deeply  sensible  ot 
a  great  change  wrought  upon  their  heart  an4 
manners  by  Divjue  grace.  ' 


"  In  that  dread  moment,  how.  the  frantic  Soul 
Raves  round  the  walls  of  her  clay  tenement, 
Huns  to  each  avenue  and  shrieks  for  help ; 
But  shrieks  in  vain  !  ..^How  wishfully  slie  looks 
On  all  she's  leaving,  now  no  longer  hers  : 
Oh  might  she  stay  to  wash  away  her  stains. 

And  fit  her  for  her  passage ! Mournful  sight ! 

lier  very  eyes  weep  blood;. ...and  every  groan 

She  heaves  is  big  with  horror Bui  the  foe 

Pursues  her  close  through  every  lane  of  life. 
Till  forc'd  at  last  to  the  tremendous  verge. 
At  once  she  sinks  to  everlasting  ruin !" 


IIOEBES 

Was  a  celebrated  mfidel  in  the  last  age, 
who^  in  bravado,  would  sometimes  speak 
Vety  unbecoming  things  ot  God  and  his 
word.     Yet,  when  alone,  he  was  haunted 


220  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

with  the  most  tormenting  reflections,  and 
would  awake  in  great  terror,  if  his  candle 
happened  but  to  go  out  in  the  night.  He 
could  never  bfeat  '^itif  discourse  of  death, 
and  seemed  to  cast  off  all  thoughts  of  it. 
He  lived  to  be  upwards  of  ninety.  His 
last  sensible  words  were,  when  he  found 
he  could  live  no  longer,  *^  I  shall  be  glad 
then  to  find  a  hole  to  creep  out  of  the  world 
at."  And,  notwithstanding  all  his  high 
pretensions  to  learning  and  philosophy,  his 
uneasiness  constrained  him  to  confess, 
when  he  drew  near  to  the  grave,  that  "  he 
was  about  to  take  a  leap  in  the  dark." 
The  writings  of"  this  old  sinner,  ruined  the 
earl  of  Rochester,  and  many  other  gentle- 
men. As  that  nobleman  himself  declared, 
after  his  conversion. 

SERVIN. 

"  He  was"  says  Sully,  "both  a  wonder  and 
a  monster ;  I  can  give  no  other  idea  of  that 
assemblage  of  the  most  excellent  and  most 
pernicious  qualities.  Let  the  reader  repre- 
sent to  himself  a  man  of  genius  so  lovely, 
and  an  understanding  so  extensive,  as  reti- 
dered  him  scarce  ignorant  of  any  thing 
that  could  be  known ;  of  so  vast  and  ready 
a   comprehension,    that    he    immediately 


EXEMPlilFlCATION.  221 

made  himself  master  of  what  he  attempt* 
ed  ;  and  of  so  prodigious  a  memory,  that 
^e  never  forgot  what  he  had  once  learned  ; 
he  possessed  all  parts  of  philosophy  and 
the  inathemati<:s,  particularly  fortification 
and  drawing  :'  eveh  in  theology  hie  was  So 
well  skilled,  that  he  was  an  excellent  preach- 
er whenever  he  had  a  mind  to  exert  that 
talent,  and  an  able  disputant  for  and  against 
the  reformed  religion  iiidifferently  ;  he  not 
only  understood  Greeic,  H'ebrew,  and  all 
the'  languages  which  we  call  learned,  but 
-also  the  different  jargons  or  modern  dia- 
lects ;  he  accented  and  pronounced  them 
so  naturally,  and  so  perfectly  imitated  the 
gestures  and  manners  both  of  the  several 
nations  of  Kurope,  and  the  particular  pro- 
vinces of  France,  that  he  might  have  been 
taken  for  a  native  of  ail  or  of  any  of  these 
countries  ;  and  this  quality  he  applied'  to 
counterfeit  all  sorts  of  persons,  wherein  he 
succeeded  wonderfully  :  he  was,  moreover, 
the  best  comedian  and  greatest  droll  that 
perhaps  ever  appeared;  he  had  a  genius 
for  poetry,  and  had  written  many  verses  ; 
he  played  upon  almost  all  instruments,  was 
a  perfect  master  of  music,  and  sung  most 
agreeably  and  justly ;  he  was  of  a  disposi- 
tion to  do,  as  well  as  to  know,  all  things : 
his  body  was  perfectly  well  suited  to  his 
T  2 


^22  EXEMPLI*^IGATION, 

mind,  he  was  light,  Dimble,  dextrous,  and 
ilt  for  all  exercises  ;  he  could  ride  well^ 
ar^d  in  dancing,  wrestling,  and  leaping,  he 
was  ad^nired :  there  are  not  any  recrear 
|l^v;e  ganxes  that  he  did  not  know ;  and  Wiis 
islfilled  in  almost  all  ,|he  mechanic  arts. 
3^ut  now  for  the  reverse  of  the  medal ; 
here  it  appeared  that  he  was  treacherous, 
cruel,  cowardly,  deceitful ;  a  liar,  a  cheat, 
a  drunkard  and  glutton  :  a  sharper  ir  playi, 
irpnaersed  in  every  species  of  vice,  a  blas- 
phemer, an  atheist;  in  a  word,  in:  him 
might  be  found  all  the  vices  contrary  to 
nature,  honour,  religion,  and  society ;  the 
truth  of  which  he  himself  evinced  with  his 
latest  breath,  for  he  died  in  the  flower  of 
his  age,  in  a  common  brothel,  perfectly 
corrupted  by  his  debaucheries,  and  expired 
with  a  glass  in  his  hand,  cursing  and  deny- 
ing God." 

It  is  evident  from  this  extraordinary 
case,  that  "with  the  talent  of  an  angel,  a 
man  may  be  a  fool." — There  is  no  neces- 
sary connection  between  great  natural  abili- 
ties and  religious  qualifications.  They 
may  go  together,  but  they  are  frequently 
found  assunder. 


EXEMPLIFICATION;  \<i^ 

,^^^  ^..,,  ^      AN  ATHEIgT. 

'Harnaby,  a  Physician  in  London,  was  iix- 
timately  acquainted  with  an  atheist.  After 
some  time,  he  was  seized  with  a  violent 
fever,  and  sent  for  the  doctor.  He  came, 
and  prescribed  several  medicines,  but  none 
of  them  took  effect.  At  length  he  told  him 
plainly,  "  Sir,  I  know  nothing  more  that 
can  be  done  ,*  you  must  die.  Upon  this, 
he  clenched  his  fists,  gnashed  his  teeth,  and 
said  with  the  utmost  fury,  God  !  God !  J. 
won't  die  !"  and  immediately  expired.       ,  « 

FRANCIS  NEWPORT, 

Who  died  in  the  year  1692,  was  favoured 
both  with  a  liberal  and  religious  education. 
After  spending  five  years  in  the  university, 
he  was  entered  in  one  of  the  Inns  of  the 
Court.  Here  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  in- 
fidels, lost  all  his  religious  impressions, 
commenced  infidel  himself,  and  became  a 
most  abandoned  character,  uniting  himself 
to  a  club  of  wretches  who  met  together 
constantly  to  encourage  each  other  in  being 
critically  wicked.  In  this  manner  he  con- 
ducted himself  for  several  years,  till  at 
length  his  intemperate  courses  brought  oii 


<;224  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

an  illness,  which  revived  all  his  former  re- 
ligious impressions,  accompanied  with  an 
horror  of  mind  inexpressible.  The  yio- 
ience  of  his  torments  Was  such,  that 'he 
sweat  in  the  most  prodigious  manner.'  'In 
nine  days  he  was  reduced  from  a  robust 
state  of  health  to  perfect  weakness,  during 
all  which  time  his  language  was  the  most 
dreadful  that  imagination  can  conceive. 
At  one  time,  looking  towards  the  fire,  he 
6Uid,  "^  Oh !  that  I  was  to  lie  and  broil  up- 
'on  the  fire  for  a  hundred  thousand  years, 
to  purchase  the  favour  of  God,  and  to  be 
reconciled  to  him  again  !  But  it  is  a  fruit- 
less vain  wish  ;  millions  of  millions  of  years 
will  bring  me  no  nearer  the  end  of  my  tor- 
tures, than  one  poor  hour.  O  eternity  ! 
eternity !  who  can  properly  paraphrase 
upon  the  words — fbrever  and  ever  !" 

In  this  kind  of  strain  he  continued  till 
his  strength  was  exhausted,  and  his  disso- 
lution approached ;  when,  recovering  a 
little  breath,  with  a  groan  so  dreadful  and 
loud^  as  if  it  had  not  been  human,  he  cried 
out,  "  Oh !  the  insufferable  pangs  of  hell 
and  damnation !"  and  so  died ;  death  set- 
tling the  visage  of  his  face  in  such  a  form, 
as  if  the  body,  though  dead,  was  sensible 
of  the  extremity  of  torments. 


JiXEMPLIFIOATION.  225 

EMERBON 

Was  an  infidel,  and  orje.  of  the  first  mathe^ 
maticians  of  bis  age.  Though,  in  some 
respects;  he  might  be  considered  a  worthy 
iBsm,  his  condujct  through  Hfe,  was  rude, 
vulgar,  and  frequeixtly  immoral.  He  paid 
jio,  attention  to  religious,  duties,  and  both 
intoxication  and  profane  language  were  fa- 
miliar to  him.  Towards  the  close  of  his 
days,  being  afflicted  with  the  stone;  he 
would  crawl  about  the  floor  on  his  bandg 
and  knees,  sometimes  praying,  and  some- 
times swearing.  What  a  poor  creature  is 
man  without  religion  !  Newton  died  of  the 
same  disorder,  which  was  attended,  at 
times,  with  such  severe  paroxysms  as  forced 
out  large  drops  of  sweat  down  his  face. 
In  these  trying  circumstances,  however,  he 
was  never  observed  to  utt<ir  the  smallest 
complaint^  or  to  express  the  least  impa- 
tience. What  a  striking  contrast  between 
the  conduct  of  the  infidel  and  the  christian! 

VOLTAIRE, 

During  a  long  life,  was  continually  treating 
the  Holy  Scriptures  with  contempt,  and 
endeavouring  to  spread  the  ppison  of  infi- 
delity among  t^e  nations,:,  In  his  last  illr 


226  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

ncss  he  sent  for  ^Tronchin.  When  the 
Doctor  came,  he  found  Yoltaire  in  the 
greatest  agonies,  *  exclaimhig  with  the  ut- 
most horror— ^I  am  abandoned  by  God  and 
man.  Doctor,  I  will  give  yoii  half  of  what 
I  am  worthy  if  yoii  will  give  ine  six  months 
life.  The  dcictor  ansWtired,'  Sir,  you  can- 
not live  six  weeks.  Voltaire  replied)  Then 
I  shall  go  to  hell,  and  you  will  gowitlvnle ! 
and  soon  after  expired.-  ,.   :    . 

-  <'^  This  *  is  the  hero  -of  *  modern  infidds  ! 
'!Dare  atiy  of  them  say^^^Let  me  die  the 
tleath  of  Voltaire,  and  let  my  last  end  be 
iike  his?  That  he  wash,  man  of  great  and 
various  talents,  none  ■  can  deny ;  but  his 
want  of  sound  learning,  and  moral  qualifi- 
tions,  will  ever  prevent  him  fi^om  being 
ranked  with  the  benefactors  of  mankind. 
If  the  reader  has  felt  himself  injured  by 
the  poison  of  this  man's  writing's,  he  may 
find  relief  for  his  woiinded  mind,  by  peru- 
sing Findlay's  Vindication  of  the  Saered 
Books  from  the  misrepresentations  and 
cavils  of  Voltaire  ;  and  Lefanu's  Letters  of 
certain  Jews  to  Voltaire.  The  hoary  infi- 
del cuts  but  a  very  sorry  figure  in  the 
hands  of  these  Sons  of  Abraham. 
'  DuHng  VoUaire^s  last  visit  to  Paris, 
when  his  triumph  was  complete,  and  he 
had  even  feared  that  he  should  die  with 


EXEMFl.IFICAION.    -  227 

glory,  amidst  the  acclamations  of  an  infa- 
tuated theatre,  he  was  struck  by  the  hand 
of  Providence,  and  fated  to  make  a  very 
different  termination  of  his  career. 
.^,  In  the  midst  of  his  triumphs,  a  violent 
hemorrhage  raised  apprehensions  for  his- 
life.  D'Alembert,  Diderot,  and  Marmoi^-jy 
tetl,  hastened  to  support  his  resolution  in 
his  last  moments,  but  were  only  witnesses 
to  their  mutual  ignominy,  as  well  as  to  his 
own.  Rage,  remorse,  reproach,  and  blas- 
phemy, all  accompany  and  ch?iracterize  the 
long  agony  of  the  dying  atheist. 

On  his  return  from  the  theatre,  and  in 
the  midst  of  the  toils  he  was  resuming  to 
acquire  fresh  applause,  Voltaire  was  warn- 
ed, that  the  long  career  of  his  impiety  was 
drawing  to  an  end. 

In  spite  of  all  the  sophisters  flocking 
around  him,  in  the  first  days  of  illness,  he 
gave  signs  of  wishing  to  return  to  the  God 
whom  he  had  so  often  blasphemed.  Ke 
called  for  the  priest.  His  danger  increas- 
ing, he  wrote  the  following  note  to  the 
Abbe  Gaultier  :■ — "  You  had  premised  me 
Sir,  to  come  and  hear  me.  1  intreat  you 
would  take  the  trouble  of  calling.on  me  as 
soon  as  possible. — Signed  Voltaire.  Pa- 
ris, 26th  Feb.  1 778. " 

A  few  days  after  he  wrote  the  following 


228  EXEMPLIlf'tGAtlOX. 

dteblaration^  in  presence  of  the  Abb 6  Gaul- 
tieri  the  Abb6  Mignot,  and  the  Marquis  de 
Yillevieille,  copied  from  the  miniites  depo- 
sited with  Mr.  Momet,  notary  at  Paris  : 

''I  the  underwritten,  declare,  that  for 
these  four  days  past,  having  been  afflicted 
^vhh.  a  vomiting  of  bloodf  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four,  and  not  having  been  able  to 
drag  myself  to  the  church,  the  Rev.  the 
Rector  of  Sulpice,  having  been  pleased  to 
add  to  his  good  works,  that  of  sending  to 
-me  the  Abbe  Gaultier  ;  I  confess^  to  him ; 
and  if  it  pleases  God  to  dispose  of  me,  I 
die  in  the  Church,  in  which  I  was  born; 
hoping  that  the  divine  mercy  will  deign  to 
pardon  all  my  faults.  Second  of  March, 
1778.  Signed  Voltaire  ;  in  presence  of 
the  Abbe  Mignot,  my  nephew,  and  the  Mar- 
quis de  Villevieille,  my  friend." 

After  the  two  witnesses  had  signed  this 
declaration,  Voltaire  added  these  words, 
copied  from  the  same  minutes  : — "  The 
Abb6  Gaultier,  my  confessor,  having  ap- 
prized me,  that  it  was  said  among  a  certain 
set  of  people,  that  I  '  should  protest  against 
every  thing  I  did  at  my  death  ;'  I  declare 
that  I  never  made  such  a  speech,  and  that 
it  is  an  old  jest,  attributed  long  since  to 
many  of  the  learned,  more  enlightened  than 
I  am." 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  229 

This  declaration  is  also  signed  fay  the 
Marquis  de  Villevieille,  to  whom,  eleven 
years  before,  Voltaire  wrote,  "  Conceal 
your  march  from  the  enemy,  in  your  endea- 
vours to  crush  the  wretch  !"-* 

Voltaire  had  permitted  this  declaration  to 
be  carried  to  the  rector  of  Sulpice  and  to 
the  archbishop  of  Paris,  to  know  whether 
it  would  be  sufficient.  When  the  Abbe 
Gaultier  returned  with  the  answer,  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  gain  admittance  to 
the  patient.  The  conspirators  strained  eve- 
ry nerVe  to  hinder  the  Chief  from  consum- 
mating his  recantation,  and  every  avenue 
was  shut  to  the  priest,  whom  Voltaire 
himself  had  sent  for.  The  demons  haunt- 
ed every  access  :  rage  succeeded  to  fury, 
and  fury  to  rage  again,  during  the  remain- 
der of  his  life. 

D'Alembert,  Diderot,  and  about  twenty 
others  of  the  conspirators,  who  had  beset 
his  apartment,  never  approached  him,  but. 
to  witness  their  own  ignominy,  and  often  he 
would  curse  them,  and  exclaim  :  "  Retire  ! 
It  is  you  that  have  brought  me  to  my  pre- 

*  It  had  been  customary  during  many  years  for 
Voltaire  to  call  our  blessed  Saviour — ^The  Wretch. 
And  he  vowed  tliat  he  would  crush  him.  He  closes 
many  of  his  letters  to  his  infidel-friends  with  the 
same  words — crush  the  wretch  ! 


230  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

sent  state !  Begone !  I  could  have  done 
without  you  all ;  but  you  could  not  exist 
without  me  !  And  what  a  wretched  glory 
have  you  procured  me  !" 

Then  would  succeed  the  horrid  remem- 
brance of  his  conspiracy.  They  could 
hear  him,  the  prey  of  anguish  and  dread, 
alternately  supplicating  or  blaspheming  that 
God  against  whom  he  had  conspired ;  and 
in  plaintive  accents  would  he  cry  out,  "  Oh 
Christ !  Oh  Jesus  Christ !"  And  then  com- 
plain that  he  was  abandoned  by  God  and 
man.  The  hand  which  had  traced  in  an- 
cient writ  the  sentence  of  an  impious  and 
reviling  king,  seemed  to  trace  before  his 
eyes,  "  Crush  then,  do  crush  the  Wretch." 
In  vain  he  turned  his  head  away  ;  the  time 
was  coming  apace,  when  he  was  to  appear 
before  the  tribunal  of  him  whom  he  had 
blasphemed;  and  his  physicians,  particu- 
larly Mr.  Tronchin,  calling  to  administer 
relief,  thunderstruck,  retired  declaring  the 
death  of  the  impious  man  to  be  terrible  in*!- 
deed.  The  pride  of  the  conspirators  would 
willingly  have  suppressed  these  declara- 
tions, but  it  was  in  vain.  The  Mareschal 
de  Richelieu  fled  from  the  bed  side,  decla- 
ring it  to  be  a  sight  too  terrible  to  be  sus- 
tained ;  and  Mr.  Tronchin,  that  the  furies. 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  231 

of  Orestes  could  give  but  a  faint  idea  of 
those  of  Voltaire.* 

HUME. 

The  last  days  of  David  Hume  were  spent 
in  playing  at  whist,  in  cracking  his  jokes 
about  Charon  and  his  boat,  and  in  reading 
liUcian,  and  other  entertaining  books,  'i  his 
was  a  consummatum  est  worthy  of  a  clever 
fellow,  whose  conscience  was  seared  as  with 
an  hot  iron  !  Dr.  Johnson  observes  upon 
this  impenitent  death-bed  scene — ^'Hume 
owned  he  had  never  read  the  New  Testa- 
ment  with  attention.     Here  then    was  a 


*  Diderot  and  D'Alembert,  his  friends  and  com- 
panions in  infidelity,  died  with  remorse  of  conscience 
somewhat  similar  to  tlie  above. 

This  account  of  the  unhappy  end  of  Voltaire  is 
confirmed  by  a  letter  by  M.  de  Luc,  an  eminent 
philosopl^r,  and  a  man  of  the  strictest  honour  and 
probity. 

Cowper  has  alluded  to  the  above  circumstances 
in  the  character  of  this  arch-infidel. 

"  The  Frenchman  first  in  literary  fame. 
Mention  him  if  you  please — rVoltaire !— The  same, 
Willi  spirit,  g-enius,  eloquence  supplied, 
Liv'd  long,  wrote  much,  laugh'd  heartily,  and  died ; 
The  Scripture  was  his  jest-book,  whence  he  drew 
Bon-mots  to  g-all  the  Christian  and  the  Jew. 
An  infidel  in  health ;  but  what  when  sick  ? 
Oh  then,  a  text  would  touch  him  to  the  quick." 


2a2         ^       EXEMPLIFICATION. 

man,  who  had  been  at  no  pains  to  inquire 
into  the  truth  of  religion,  and  had  continu- 
ally turned  his  mind  the  other  way.  It  was 
not  to  be  expected  that  the  prospect  of 
death  should  alter  his  way  of  thinking,  un- 
less God  should  send  an  angel  to  set  him 
right.  He  had  a  vanity  in  being  thought 
easy."  Dives  fared  sumptuously  every 
day,  and  saw  no  danger:  But — ^the  next 
thing  we  hear  of  him  is — In  hell  he  lifted 
up  his  eyes,  being  in  torments  ! 

It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  a  man  of 
Hume's  abilities  should  have  so  prostituted 
his  talents.  With  all  his  pretensions  to 
philosophy,  he  was  an  advocate  for  adulte- 
ry and  suicide.  The  reader  will  find  a  suf- 
ficient answer  to  his  sophistry  in  Home's 
letters  on  infidelity,  Beattie's  essay  on  the 
nature  and  immutability  of  truth,  and 
Campbell  on  the  miracles  of  Christ. 

Gibbon  says,  "  He  died  the  death  of  a 
philosopher  !"  If  philosophers  die  in  such 
a  manner,  may  it  be  our  happy  lot  to  die 
like  an  old  fashioned  and  enthusiastic 
christian ! 

GIBBOiSr 
Was  one  of  the   most  respectable  Deists 
of  the  present  age,  and  more  like  Hume, 
than  any  other  of  the  opposers  of  Christiani- 
ty.    Very  sufficient  reasons,  however,  arc 


EXEMPLIPICATIOl!,.  233 

to  be  given  for  his  infidelity.  Porson,  in 
the  preface  to  his  letters  to  Travis,  after 
giving  a  character  of  Gibbon's  history, 
seems  to  account  for  his  rejecting  the  gos- 
pel in  a  satisfactory  manner,  from  the  state 
of  his  mind.  "  He  shows,  so  strong  a  dis- 
like to  Christianity,  as  visibly  disqaaiifies 
him  for  that  society,  of  which  he  h;,.-.  v;re- 
ated  Ammianus  Marcellinus  president :  and 
we  must  blame  him  for  carrying  on  the 
attack  in  an  insidious  manner,  and  with 
improper  motives.  He  often  makes,  when 
he  cannot  readily  find  an  occasion  to  insult 
our  religion  :  which  he  hates  so  cordially, 
that  he  might  seem  to  revenge  some  per- 
sonal injury.  Such  is  his  eagerness  in  the 
cause,  that  he  stoops  to  the  most  despicable 
pun,  or  to  the  most  awkward  perversion  of 
language,  for  the  pleasure  of  turning  scrip- 
ture into  ribaldry,  or  of  calling  Jesus  an 
impostor. — A  rage  for  indecency  pervades 
the  whole  work,  but  especially  the  last 
volumes. — If  the  history  were  anonymous, 
I  should  guess  that  these  disgraceful  ob- 
scenities were  written  by  some  debauchee, 
who,  having  from  age,  or  accident,  or  ex- 
cess, survived  the  practice  of  lust,  still 
indulged  himself  in  the  luxury  of  specula- 
tion ;  and  exposed  the  impotent  imbecility, 
after  he  had  lost  the  vigour  of  the  passions." 
u  2 


234  EXEIVIPLIFICATION. 

Such  are  the  opposers  of  Jesus  and  his 
gospel  ? — Let  us  see  how  this  sneering  an- 
tagonist of  Christianity  terminated  his  mor- 
tal career. 

Eager  for  the  continuation  of  his  present 
existence,  having  little  expectation  of  any 
future  one,  he  declared  to  a  friend  about 
twenty-four  hours  previous  to  his  departure, 
in  a  flow  of  self-gratulation,  that  he  thought 
himself  a  good  life  for  ten,  twelve,  or  per- 
haps twenty  years. — -And  during  his  short 
illness,  it  is  observable,  that  he  never  gave 
the  least  intimation  of  a  future  state  of  ex- 
istence. This  insensibility  at  the  hour  of 
dissolution,  is  in  the  language  of  scepticism, 
dying  like  a  cleyer  fellow;  the  death  of  a 
philosopher !        ' 

Among  all  the  numerous  volumes  that 
Gibbon  read,  it  does  not  appear  that  he 
ever  perused  any  able  defence,  or  judicious 
explication  of  the  christian  religion. — Con- 
sult his  memoirs  and  diary  written  by  him- 
self.— His  conversion  and  re-conversion 
terminated  in  deism  ;  or  rather  perhaps  in 
a  settled  indifterence  to  all  religion.  He 
never  gave  himself  any  concern  about  it. 


EXEMPUFICATION.  2o5 

CHESTERFIKLD. 

Of  all  the  accounts  which  are  left  us,  of 
the  latter  end  of  those,  who  are  gone  before 
into  the  eternal  state,  several  are  more  hor- 
rible, but  few  so  affecting  as  that  which  is 
given  us,  by  his  own  pen,  of  the  late  lord 
Chesterfield.  It  shows  us  incontestably, 
what  a  poor  creature  man  is,  notwithst?.nd- 
ing  the  highest  polish  which  he  is  capable 
of  receiving,  without  the  knowledge  and 
•experience  of  those  satisfactions  which  true 
religion  yields  ;  and  what  egregious  fools 
all  those  persons  are,  who  squander  av/av 
their  precious  time,  in  what  the  world,  by 
a  strange  perversion  of  language,  call  plea- 
sure. 

"  I  have  enjoyed  all  the  pleasures  of  this 
world,  and  consequently  know  their  futili- 
ty, and  do  not  regret  their  loss.  I  appraise 
them  ac  their  real  value,  which  in  truth,  is 
very  low ;  whereas  those  who  have  not  ex- 
perienced, always  over-rate  them.  They 
only  see  their  gay  outside,  and  are  dazzled 
with  their  glare ;  but  I  liave  been  behind 
the  scenes.  It  is  a  common  notion,  and 
like  many  common  ones,  a  very  false  one, 
that  those,  who  have  led  a  life  .of  pleasure 
and  business,  can  never  be  easy  in  retire- 
ment ;  whereas  I  am  persuaded  that  they 


236  EXEMPLIFICATIOX. 

are  the  only  people  who  can,  if  they  have 
any  sense  and  reflection. — ^They  can  look 
back  without  an  evil  eye  upon  what  they 
from  knowledge  despise ;  others  have  al- 
ways a  hankering  after  what  they  are  not 
acquainted  with.  I  look  upon  all  that  has 
passed,  as  one  of  those  romantic  dreams 
that  opium  commonly  occasions,  and  I  do 
by  no  means  desire  to  repeat  the  nauseous 
dose,  for  the  sake  of  the  fugitive  dream, — 
When  I  say  that  I  have  no  regret,  I  do  not 
mean  that  I  have  no  remorse  ;  for  a  life 
either  of  business,  or  still  more  of  pleasure, 
never  was,  and  neVer  will  be,  a  state  of  in- 
nocence. But  God,  who  knows  the  strength 
of  human  passions,  and  the  weakness  of 
human  reason,  will,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  ra- 
ther mercifully  pardon,  than  justly  punish, 
acknowledged  errors.  I  have  been  as 
wicked  and  as  vain,  though  not  so  wise  as 
Solomon :  but  am  now  at  last  wise  enough 
to  feel  and  attest  the  truth  of  his  reflection, 
that  all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit. 
This  truth  is  never  sufficiently  discovered 
or  felt  by  mere  speculation  :  experience  in 
this  case  is  necessary  for  conviction,  though 
perhaps  at  the  experience  of  some  morality. 
My  health  is  always  bad,  though  some- 
times better  and  sometimes  worse ;  and 
my  deafness  deprives  me  of  the  comforts 


E3SEMPLmCATI0N.  237 

of  society,  which  other  people  have  in  theif 
ilinesstfs.  This  you  must  allow,  is  an  un- 
fortunate latter  end  of  life,  and  consequent- 
ly a  tiresome  one;  but  I  must  own  too, 
that  it  is  a  sort  of  ballance  to  the  tumultu- 
ous and  imaginary  pleasures  of  the  former 
part  of  it.  I  consider  my  present  wretched 
old  age  as  a  just  compensation  for  the 
follies,  not  to  say,  sins  of  my  youth.  At 
the  same  time  I  am  thankful  that  I  feel 
none  of  those  torturing  ills,  which  frequent- 
ly attend  ihe  last  stage  of  life ;  and  1  flatter 
myself  that  I  shall  go  off  quietly,  and  with 
resignation.  My  stay  in  this  world  cannot 
be  long ;  God,  who  placed  me  here,  only 
knows  when  he  will  order  me  out  of  it; 
but  whenever  he  does,  I  shall  willingly 
obey  his  command.  I  wait  for  it,  imploring 
the  mercy  of  my  Creator,  and  deprecating 
his  justice.  The  best  of  us  must  trust  to 
the  former,  and  dread  the  latter. — 1  think 
I  am  not  afraid  of  my  journey's  end;  but 
will  not  answer  for  myself,  when  the  object 
draws  very  near,  and  is  very  sure  :  For 
when  one  does  see  death  near,  let  the  best 
or  the  v.orst  people  say  what  they  please, 
it  is  a  serious  consideration.  The  divine 
attribute  of  mercy,  which  gives  us  com- 
fort, cannot  make  us  forget  the  attribute 
of  Justice,  which  must  blend  someT^ears 


258  '  EXEMPLIFICATION, 

with  our  hope. Life,  is  neither  a  burden 

nor  a  pleasure  to  me ;  but  a  certain  degree 
of  ennui  necessarily  attends  that  neutral 
state,  which  makes  me  very  willing  to  part 
with  it,  when  He  who  placed  me  here^ 
thinks  fit  to  call  me  away.  When  I  reflect, 
however,  upon  the  poor  remainder  of  my 
life,  I  look  upon  it  as  a  burden  that  must 
every  day  grow  heavier,  from  the  natural 
progression  of  physical  ills,  the  usual  com- 
panions of  increasing  years ;  and  my  reason 
tells  me,  that  I  should  wish  for  the  end  of 
it ;  but  instinct,  often  stronger  than  reason, 
and  perhaps  oftener  in  the  right,  makes  me 
take  all  proper  methods  to  put  it  off.  This 
innate  sentiment  alone  makes  me  bear  life 
with  patience  :  for  I  assure  you  I  have  nb 
farther  hopes,  but,  on  the  contrary,  many 
fears  from  it.  None  of  the  primitive  Ana- 
choretes  in  the  Theebais  could  be  more 
detached  from  life  than  I  am.  I  consider 
it  as  one  who  is  wholly  unconcerned  in  it; 
and  even  when  J  reflect  upon  what  I  have 
seen,  what  I  have  heard,  and  what  I  have 
done  myself,  I  can  hardly  persuade  myself 
that  all  the  frivolous  hurry  and  bustle,  and 
pleasures  of  the  world,  had  any  reality,  but 
they  seem  to  have  been  the  dreams  of  rest- 
less nights.  This  philosophy,  howevxr,  I 
thank  God,  neither  makes  me  sour  nor 


EXEMPLIFICATIOX.  239 

melancholy ;  I  see  the  folly  and  absurdity 
of  mankind,  without  indignation  or  pee- 
vishness. I  wish  them  wiser,  and  conse- 
quently better  than  they  are." 

The  letters  of  this  nobleman,  which  he 
wrote  to  his  son,  contain  positive  evidence, 
that,  with  all  his  honours,  learning,  wit, 
politeness,  he  was  a  thorough  bad  man, 
with  a  heart  full  of  deceit  and  uncleanness. 
Those  letters  have  been  a  pest  to  nations. 
It  may  be  questioned  whether  Rochester's 
poems  ever  did  more  harm.  This  noble- 
man was  accounted,  not  only  the  most  po- 
lite and  well-bred  man  of  his  time,  but  the 
greatest  wit. 

This  is  the  life,  these  are  the  mortifying 
acknowledgments,  and  this  is  the  poor 
sneaking  end  of  the  best  bred  man  of  the 
age  !  Not  one  word  about  Mediator  !  He 
acknowledges,  indeed,  his  frailties ;  but 
yet  in  such  a  way  as  to  extenuate  his  offen- 
ces. One  would  suppose  him  to  have  been 
an  old  heathen  philosopher,  that  had  never 
heard  the  name  of  Jesus,  rather  than  a 
penitent  christian,  whose  life  had  abpunded 
with  a  varietv  of  vices. 


240  EXEMPUPICATJON« 


ALTAMONT. 


Says  Dr.  Young,  the  sad  evening  before 
the  death  of  the  noble  Altamont,  I  was  with 
him.  No  one  was  there,  but  his  physician, 
and  an  intimate  friend  whom  he  loved,  and 
whom  he  had  ruined.  At  my  coming  in, 
he  said; — "You  and  the  physician,  are 
come  too  late.  I  have  neither  life,  nor 
hope.  You  both  aim  at  miracles.  Yoa 
would  raise  the  dead." — Heaven  I  said  wa!> 
merciful.  "  Or  I  could  not  have  been  thus 
guilty.  What  has  it  not  done  to  bless,  and 
to  save  me  : — I  have  been  too  strong  for 
omnipotence !  I  plucked  down  ruin !"  I 
said.  The  blessed  Redeemer — Hold  !  hold ! 
you  wound  me  ! — This  is  the  rock  on  which 
I  split — I  denied  his  name."  Refusing  to 
hear  any  thing  from  me,  or  take  any  thing 
from  the  physician,  he  lay  silent,  as  far  as 
sudden  darts  of  pain  would  permit,  till  the 
clock  struck.  Then  with  vehemence  ;  "  Oh, 
time !  time !  it  is  fit  thou  shouldst  strike 
thy  murderer  to  the  heart. — How  art  thou 
fled  forever  ! — A  month  !-— Oh,  for  a  single 
week  !  I  ask  not  for  years ;  though  an  age 
were  too  little  for  the  much  I  have  to  do." 
On  my  saying,  wx  could  not  do  too  much : 
that  heaven  was  a  blessed  place — "  So 
nuich  the  worse^  *Tis  lost ! — ^Heaven  is  to 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  '241 

me  the  severest  part  of  hell !"  Soon  after 
I  proposed  prayer. — "  Pray  you  that  can. 
I  never  prayed.  1  cannot  pray — Nor  need 
I.  Is  not  heaven  on  my  side  already  ?  It 
closes  with  my  conscience.  Its  severest 
strokes  but  second  my  own."  His  friend 
being  much  touched,  even  to  tears,  at  this— 
who  could  forbear  ?  I  could  not ; — with  a 
most  affectionate  look  he  s?id  :  "Keep  those 
tears  for  thyself.  I  have  undone  thee.— 
Dost  weep  for  me  ?  That's  cruel.-*-What 
can  pain  me  more  ?"  Here  his  friend,  too 
much  affected,  would  have  left  him.  "  No, 
stay.  Thou  still  mayest  hope.  Therefore 
hear  me.  How  madly  have  I  talked  ?  How 
madly  hast  thou  listened  and  believed  ?  But 
look  on  my  present  state,  as  a  full  answer 
to  thee,  and  to  myself.  This  body  is  all 
weakness  and  pain ;  but  my  soul,  as  if 
strung  up  by  torment  to  greater  strength 
and  spirit,  is  full  powerful  to  reason,  full 
mighty  to  suffer.  And  that  which  thus 
triumphs  within  the  jaws  of  mortality  is 
doubtless,  immortal. — And,  as  for  a  deity, 
nothing  less  than  an  Almighty  could  inflict 
what  I  feel." — I  was  about  to  congratulate 
this  passive,  involuntary  confessor  on  his 
asserting  the  two  prime  articles  of  his  creed, 
extorted  by  the  rack  of  nature ;  when  he 
thus  said,  very  passionately :  "  No,  no !  let 


^43*  eXEMPUFICATIQN 

me  spe^k  on.  I  have  not  long  to  speak. — 
My  much  injured  friend  !  my  soul,  as  my 
body,  Ues  in  ruins ;  and  scattered  fragments 
pf  broken  thought :  remorse  for  the  past, 
throws  my  thoughts  on  the  future.  Worse 
dread  of  the  future,  strikes  it  back  on  the 
past.  I  turn,  and  turn,  and  find  no  ray. 
Pidst  thou  feel  the  mountain  that  is  on  me, 
thou  wouldst  struggle  with  the  martyr  for 
his  stake,  and  bless  heaven  for  the  flames  : 
that  )s  not  everlasting  flame ;  that  is  not  an 
unquenchable  fire."  How  were  we  struck  ? 
Yet,  soon  after,  still  more.  With  what  an 
eye  of  distraction,  what  a  face  of  despair, 
he  cried  out;  "My  principles  have  poison- 
ed my  friend ;  my  extravagance  has  beg- 
gared my  boy ;  my  unkindness  has  mur- 
dered my  wife  !  And  is  there  another  hell  ? 
Qh !  tliou  blasphemed,  yet  most  indulgent, 
J^ord  (jod !  Hell  is  a  refuge,  if  it  hides  me 
from  thy  frown."  • 

^oon  after  his  understar  d-ng  failed.  His 
terrified  imagination  uttered  horrors  not  to 
be  repeated,  or  ever  forgotten.  And  ere  the 
sun  arose,  the  gay,  young,  noble,  ingenuous, 
and  irust  wretched  AHamont  expired. 

{t  if.  not  easy  for  imagination  itself  to 
form  'a  more  affecting  i  c  presentation  of  a 
death-bed  scene  than  that  of  this  noble 
youtli. 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  243 

CASE  OF  A  GENTLEMAN, 

Says  the  Rev.  D.  Simpson,  who  was  an 
eye  and  ear  witness,  and  also  saw  his  body 
borne  to  the  grave,— I  found  him  tio  tnore 
that  sprightly  and  vivacious  son  of  joy 
which  he  used  to  be ;  but  languishing, 
pining  away,  and  withering  under  the  chas- 
tising hand  of  God.  His  limbs  feeble  and 
trembling :  his  countenance  forlorn  and 
ghastly ;  and  the  little  breath  he  had  left, 
sobbed  out  in  sorrowful  sighs !  his  body 
hastening  apace  to  the  dust,  to  lodge  in  the 
silent  grave,  the  land  of  darkness  and  deso- 
lation. His  soul  just  going  to  God  who 
gave  it;  preparing  itself  to  wing  away  unto 
its  long  home  ;  to  enter  upon  an  unchange- 
able and  eternal  state.  When  I  was  come 
up  into  his  chamber,  and  had  seated  my- 
self on  his  bed,  he  first  cast  a  wishful  look 
upon  me,  and  then  began  as  w  ell  as  he  was 
able  to  speak  :  ''  Oh  !  that  I  had  been  wise, 
that  i  had  known  this,  that  I  had  consider- 
ed my  latter  end.  Ah  !  death  is  knocking 
at  my  doors :  in  a  few  hours  more  I  shall 
draw  my  last  gasp  ;  and  then  judgment,  the 
tremendous  judgment !  How  shall  I  ap- 
pear, unprepared  as  I  am,  before  the  all- 
knowing  and  omnipotent  God  ?  How  shall 
I  endure  the  day  of  his  coming  !"  When  I 


{a4-4  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

mentioned  among  many  other  things,  that 
strict  holiness,  which  he  had  formerly  so 
slightly  esteemed,  he  replied  with  a  hasty 
eagerness  :  '•'  Oh  !  that  holiness  is  the  only 
thing  I  now  long  for.  I  would  gladly  part 
with  all  my  estate,  large  as  it  is,  or  a  world 
to  obtain  it.  Now  my  benighted  eyes  are 
enlightened,  I  clearly  discern  the  things 
that  are  excellent.  What  is  there  in  the 
place  whither  I  am  going  l)at  God  ?  Or 
what  is  there  to  be  desired  on  earth  but 
religion  ?" — But  if  this  God  should  restore 
you  to  health,  said  I,  think  you  that  you 
should  alter  your  former  course  ?  "  I  call 
heaven  arid  earth  to  witness,"  said  he,  "I 
would  labour  for  holiness,  as  I  shall  soon 
labour  for  life.  As  for  riches  and  plea- 
sures, and  the  applauses  of  men,  1  account 
them  as  dross  and  dung,  no  more  to  my 
happiness  than  the  feathers  that  lie  on  the 
floor.  Oh  !  if  the  righteous  Judge  would 
try  me  once  more  ;  if  he  would  but  reprieve 
and  spare  me  a  little  longer ;  in  what  a 
spirit  would  I  spend  the  remainder  of  my 
days  !  I  would  know  no  other  business,  aim 
at  no  other  end,  than  perfecting  myself  in 
holiness.  Whatever  contributed  to  that; 
every  means  of  grace,  every  opportunity  of 
spiritual  improvement,  should  be  dearer  to 
me,  than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver.  But 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  2.45 

alas !  why  do  I  amuse  myself  with  fond 
imaginations  I  The  best  resolutions  arc 
now  insignificant,  because  they  are  too  late. 
The  day  in  which  I  should  have  worked  is 
over  and  gone,  and  I  see  a  sad,  horrible 
night  approaching,  bringing  with  it  the 
blackness  of  darkness  for  ever.  Heretofore^ 
woe  is  me  !  when  God  called,  I  refused ; 
when  he  invited,  I  was  one  of  them  that 
made  excuse.  Now,  therefore  I  meet  the 
reward  of  my  deeds  ;  fearfulness  and  trem- 
bling have  come  upon  me  :  I  smart,  and 
am  in  sore  anguish  already  !  and  yet  this 
is  but  the  beginning  of  sorrows  !  it  doth  not 
yet  appear  what  I  shall  be  ;  but  sure  I  shall 
be  ruined,  undone,  and  destroyed  with  an 
everlasting  destruction !" 

ANTITHEUS. 

Cumberland,  gives  us  a  most  mournful 
tale  concerning  a  gentleman  of  infidel-prin- 
ciples. "  I  remember  him,  in  the  height 
of  his  fame,  the  hero  of  his  party ;  no  man 
so  caressed,  followed  and  applauded :  he 
was  a  little  loose,  his  friends  would  own, 
in  his  moral  character,  but  then  he  was  the 
honestest  fellow  in  the  world  ;  it  was  not 
to  be  denied,  that  he  was  rather  free  in  his 
notions,  but  then  he  was  the  best  creature 


246  KXEMPLIFICATIQN. 

living.  I  have  seen  men  of  the  gravest 
character  wink  at  his  sallies  ;  because  he 
was  so  pleasant  and  so  well  bred,  it  was 
impossible  to  be  angry  with  him.  Every- 
thing went  well  with  him,  and  Antitheus 
seemed  to  be  at  the  summit  of  human  pros- 
perity, when  he  was  suddenly  seized  with 
the  most  alarming  symptoms  ;  he  was  at  his 
country  house,  and  which  had  rarely  hap- 
pened to  him,  at  that  time  alone  ;  wife  or 
family  he  had  none,  and  out  of  the  multi- 
tude of  his  friends  no  one  happened  to  be 
near  him  at  the  moment  of  his  attack.  A 
neighbouring  physician  was  called  out  of 
bed  in  the  night  to  come  to  him  with  all 
haste  in  this  extremity  :  he  found  him  sit- 
ing up  in  his  bed  supported  by  pillows,  his 
countenance  full  of  horror,  his  breath  strug- 
gling as  in  the  article  of  death,  his  pulse 
intermitting,  and  at  times  beating  with  such 
rapidity  as  could  harldly  be  counted.  An- 
titheus dismissed  the  attendants  he  had 
about  him,  and  eagerly  demanded  of  the 
physician,  if  he  thought  him  in  danger ; 
the  physician  answered  that  he  must  fairly 
tell  him  he  was  in  eminent  danger. — Ho-(v 
so  !  how  so  !  do  you  think  me  dying? — He 
was  sorry  to  say,  the  symptoms  indicated 
dtaxh,— Impossible  /  you  must  7iot  let  me 
die:  Idare  not  die:  0  doctor  /  save  7ne  if 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  247 

zjou  can. — ^Your  situation,  sir,  is  such,  that 
it  is  not  in  mine,  or  any  other  man's  art,  to 
save  you ;  and  I  think  I  should  not  do  my 
duty,  if  I  gave  you  any  false  hopes  in  these 
moments,  which,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  will 
not  more  than  suffice  for  any  worldly  or 
other  concerns,  which  you  may  have  upon 
your  mind  to  settle. — My  mind  is  full  of 
horror^  and  I  am  incapable  of  preparing  it 
for  death, — He  now  fell  into  an  agony,  ac- 
companied with  a  shower  of  tears  ;  a  cordial 
was  administered,  and  he  revived  in  a  de- 
gree ;  when  turning  to  the  physician,  who 
had  his  fingers  upon  his  pulse,  he  eagerly 
demanded  of  him,  if  he  did  not  see  that 
blood  upon  the  feet-curtain  of  his  bed. 
There  was  none  to  be  seen,  the  physician 
assured  him  ;  it  was  nothing  but  a  vapour 
of  his  fancy. — I  see  it  plainly^  in  the  shape 
of  a  human  hand:  I  have  been  visited  with 
a  tremendous  aparition.  As  I  zvas  lying 
sleepless  in  my  bed  this  nighty  I  took  up  a 
letter  of  a  diseased  friend^  to  dissipate  cer' 
tain  thoughts  that  made  me  uneasy :  I  be- 
lieved hirn  to  be  a  great  philosopher^  and 
was  converted  to  his  opinions  :  persuaded 
by  his  arguments  and  my  own  experience., 
that  the  disorderly  affairs  of  this  evil  world 
woidd  not  be  administered  by  any  wise.,  just 
or  provident  being,  I  had  brought  myself 


248  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

to  think  that  no  such  being  could  exists  and 
that  a  life  produced  by  chance^  must  termi- 
nate in  annihilation  ;  this  is  the  reasoning 
of  tliat  letter^  and  such  -were  the  thoughts  I 
•was  resolving  in  my  7?iifid^  when  the  appa- 
rition  of  my  dear  friend  presented  itself 
before  me  ;  and  unfolding  the  curtains  of 
my  bedj  stood  at  my  feet^  looking  earnestly 
upon  me  for  a  considerable  space  of  time. 
My  heart  sunk  within  me  ;  for  his  face  was 
ghastly^  fidl  of  horror^  xvith  an  expression 
of  such  an  anguish  as  I  can  never  describe} 
his  eyes  were  fixed  upon  me^  and  at  length 
with  a  mourriful  motion  of  his  head-^Alas^ 
alas  !  he  cried,  we  are  in  a  fatal  error  ! — - 
and  taking  hold  of  the  curtains  with  his 
hand,  shook  them  violently  and  disappeared. 
This  I  protest  to  you,  I  both  saw  and 
heard;  and  look  /  where  the  print  of  his 
hand  is  left  in  blood  upon  the  curtains  /" 

Antitheus  survived  the  relation  of  this 
vision  very  few  hours,  and  died  delirious 
in  great  agonies. 

What  a  forsaken  and  disconsolate  crea- 
ture is  man  without  his  God  and  Saviour. 

ROUSSEAU 

Was  bom  at  Geneva ;  and,  at  a  proper  age, 
was  bound  apprentice  to  an  artist.  During 
his  apprenticeship  he  frequently  robbed  his 


EXEMPUFICATIOX.  249 

master  as  well  as  other  persons.  Before 
his  time  was  expired  he  decamped,  fled  in- 
to the  dominions  of  the  king  of  Sardinia, 
where  he  professed  to  be  a  catholic.  By 
an  unexpected  turn  of  fortune  he  became  a 
footman ;  in  which  capacity  he  forgot  not 
his  old  habit  of  stealing.  He  was  detected 
with  the  stolen  goods  ;  swore  that  they  were 
given  him  by  a  maid  servant  of  tl^ie  house ; 
the  girl  was  confronted  with  him ;  she  de- 
nied the  fact,  and,  weeping,  pressed  him  to 
confess  the  truth  ;  but  the  young  philoso- 
pher still  persisted  in  the  lie,  and  the  poor 
girl  was  driven  from  her  place  in  disgrace. 
Tired  of  being  a  serving  man,  he  went  to 
throw  himself  on  the  protection  of  a  lady, 
whom  he  had  seen  once  before,  and  who, 
he  protests,  was  the  most  virtuous  creature 
of  her  sex.  The  lady  had  so  great  a  re- 
gard for  him,  that  she  called  him  her  little 
darling,  and  he  called  her  mamma.  Mam- 
ma had  a  footman,  who  served  her  besides, 
in  another  capacity,  very  much  resembling 
that  of  a  husband  ;  but  she  had  a  most  ten- 
der aifection  for  her  adopted  son  Rousseau  ; 
and,  as  she  feared  he  was  forming  connec- 
tions with  a  certain  lady  which  might  spoil 
his  morals,  she  herself,  out  of  pure  virtue, 
took  him — to  bed  with  her ! — ^This  virtuous 
eftbrt  to  preserve  the  purity  of  Rousseau's 


230  EXEMPLIFICATIOK. 

heart,  had  a  dreadful  effect  upon  the  poor 
footman,  for  he  poisoned  himself. — Rous- 
seau fell  sick*,  and  mamma  was  obliged  to 
part  with  little  darling,  while  he  performed 
a  journey  to  the  south  of  France,  for  the 
recovery  of  his  health.  On  the  road  he 
dined  with  a  gentleman,  and  debauched  his 
wife.  As  he  was  returning  back,  he  debated 
with  himself  whether  he  should  pay  his 
lady  a  second  visit  or  not ;  but  fearing  he 
might  be  tempted  to  seduce  her  dau^ter 
also,  virtue  got  the  better,  and  determined 
the  little  darling  to  fly  home  into  the  arms 
of  his  mamma  :  but,  alas  !  those  arms  were 
filled  with  another.  Mamma's  virtue  had 
prompted  her  to  take  a  substitute,  whom 
she  liked  too  well  to  part  with,  and  our 
philosopher  was  obliged  to  shift  for  himself. 
"While  the  little  darling  resided  with  his 
mamma,  he  made  a  tour  with  a  young  mu- 
sician. Their  friendship  was  warm,  like 
that  of  most  young  men,  and  they  were, 
besides,  enjoined  to  take  particular  care  of 
each  other  during  their  travels. — They 
went  for  some  time  together,  agreed  per- 
fectly well,  and  vowed  an  everlasting  friend- 
ship for  each  other.  But  the  musician,  be- 
ing one  day  taken  in  a  fit,  fell  down  in  the 
street,  which  furnished  the  faithful  Rous- 
seau with   an  opportunity  of  slipping  off 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  251 

with  some  of  his  things,  and  leaving  him  to 
the  mercy  of  the  people,  in  a  town  where 
he  was  a  total  stranger. 

We  seldom  meet  with  so  much  villainy 
as  this  in  a  youth.  His  manhood  was,  how- 
ever, worthy  of  it.  He  turned  apostate  a 
second  time,  was  driven  from  within  the 
walls  of  his  native  city  Geneva,  as  an  in- 
cendiary, and  an  apostle  of  anarchy  and 
infidelity :  nor  did  he  forget  how  to  thieve. 
At  last  the  philosopher  marries  ;  but  like  a 
philosopher.  He  has  a  family  of  children, 
and  like  a  kind  philosophical  father,  for 
fear  they  should  want  after  his  death,  he 
sends  them  to  the  poor-house  during  his 
life  time ! — The  philosopher  dies  and  leaves 
the  philosophress  his  wife  to  the  protection 
of  a  friend ;  she  marries  a  footman  and  is 
turned  into  the  street. 

This  man  has  the  impudence  to  say,  in 
the  work  written  by  himself,  which  contains 
a  confession  of  these  his  crimes,  that  no 
man  can  come  to  the  throne  of  God,  and 
say,  I  am  a  better  man  than  Rousseau. 

Notwithstanding  the  above  circumstan- 
ces, it  must  be  owned  that  Rousseau's  wri- 
tings have  great  literary  merit,  but  they 
contain  principles  the  most  vitiating.  He 
has  exhausted  all  the  powers  of  reasoning, 
and  all  the  charms  of  eloquence  in  the  cause 


252  EXEMPLIFICATIOK. 

of  irreligion.  And  his  writings  are  so  much 
the  more  dangerous,  as  he  winds  himself 
into  favour  with  the  unwary,  by  an  eternal 
cant  about  virtue  and  liberty.  He  assumed 
the  mask  (»f  virtue  for  no  other  purpose 
than  that  of  propagating  with  more  certain 
success  the  blackest  and  most  incorrigible 
vice. 

llousseau  expired  with  a  lie  in  his  mouth, 
and  the  most  impious  appeal  to  the  Divine 
Being,  that  was  ever  made  by  moital  man. 

*^  Ah  !  my  dear,"  said  he  just  before  he 
expired,  '*  how  happy  a  thing  it  is  to  die 
when  one  has  no  reason  for  remorse  or  self- 
reproach  !" — And  then  addressing  himself 
to  the  Almighty,  he  said,  "  Eternal  Being ! 
the  soul  that  I  am  going  to  give  thee  back, 
is  as  pure  at  this  moment,  as  it  was  when  it 
proceeded  from  thee ;  render  it  a  partaker 
of  thy  felicity!" 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  25-: 

OKELY. 

Dr.  Okely  published  an  octavo  volume, 
entitled,  "  Pyrology,  or  the  connection  be- 
tween natural  and  moral  Philosophy,  with 
a  Disquisition  on  the  Origin  of  Christiani- 
ty ;"  in  which  it  was  completely  exploded, 
together  with  the  doctrine  of  a  future  state. 
It  has  pleased  God,  however,  to  show  Dr. 
Okely,  the  vanity  of  his  philosophy,  and  he 
has  done  himself  the  honour  to  publish  the 
following  manly  renunciation  of  his  errors:'-^ 

'■'■  The  author  of  Pyrology  feels  himself 
irresistibly  impelled  to  make  known,  that 
he  is  now  thoroughly  convinced  of  the 
moral  governmeat  of  God,  the  immortality 

*  There  arc  other  convevslors  In  the  present  day 
from  deism  to  Christianity,  besides  this  oV  Dr.  Okely. 
Dr.  Vanderkemp,  a  Dutch  physician,  was  convinced 
and  recovered  from  infidelity  by  an  alarming'  provi- 
dence, and  devoted  himself  as  a  missionary  for  tlie 
conversion  of  the  Heathen.  Captain  Wilson  is  another 
remarkable  instance,  who,  in  gratitude  to  God  for  his 
g-oodnes3  to  him,  undertook  to  convey  the  missiona- 
ries to  the  Southern  Ocean,  and  has  accomplished 
the  undertaking-  with  great  and  surprising  success, 
without  putting-  the  Society  to  the  smallest  expense; 

Henry  Redhead  Yorke,  wl\o  was  sentenced  to  is. 

long-  imprisonment  for  sedition,  is  another  instance 

of  a  person,  wliose  mind  has   underj^one  a  gTeat 

'  hange  during^  his  imprisonment,  and  hf^  has  hc^. 

■yn  and  honest  cnoujfli  to  .v  o\v  1'-. 


254  EXEMPL1FICATI02\. 

of  the  human  soul,  or  future  state,  and  of 
the  truth  of  Christianity  in  its  fullest  extent. 
For  his  involuntary  error  he  confidently 
hopes  to  be  pardoned  by  Almighty  God, 
through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ;  but  at 
the  same  time  he  thinks  it  his  duty,  in  this 
public  manner  to  solicit  the  pardon  of  his 
readers  for  having,  as  much  as  in  him  lay, 
though  he  trusts  ineffectually,  contributed 
to  lead  them  astray." 

THOMAS  PAINE. 

This  grand  champion  of  modern  infidel- 
ity, m  whom  its  thoughtless  abettors,  placed 
their  last,  best  hopes,  expired  at  New  York, 
in  the  year  1809.  No  deist,  so  slenderly 
acquainted  with  his  subject,  had  ever  so 
fatally  succeeded  to  corrupt  the  generation 
of  his  day,  as  Paine.  Presumptuous,  wit- 
ty, and  bad  at  heart,  he  v/as  enabled  by  a 
style  at  once  popular  and  nervous,  to  sneer, 
revile,  and  ridicule,  with  sad  effect,  the 
most  sacred,  and  most  valued  truths. 

One  v/ho  had  so  maliciously  aimed  to 
plunge  his  poisoned  arrov/s  into  the  vitals 
of  Christianity,  and  had  so  destructively 
succe-eded  to  debauch  the  understandings 
of  the  giddy,  rash,  and  tuuiultous  i)opulace, 
(who  are  ever  bad  enough,  even  under  the- 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  255 

restraints  of  Civil  as  well  as  Religious  obli- 
gations,) could  not  fail  to  call  the  attention 
of  the  Christian  world  to  his  expiring  mo- 
ments. It  was  therefore  generally  antici- 
pated that  something  signally  awful  would 
distinguish  his  death  :  and  so  indeed  there 
was,  though  not  in  the  manner  most  gene- 
rally expected.  Like  one  given  up  to  the 
"  strongest  delusions  to  believe  a  ^ie*,"  and 
"  with  a  conscience  seared  as  with  an  hot 
iron*",  he  seemed,  in  his  last  illness  to  ac- 
quire an  awful  insensihilitij  to  every  thnig 
of  a  religious  nature  ;  or  at  best,  seemed 
most  concerned,  to  keep  out  the  intrusion 
of  those  visitors,  and  those  reflections, 
which  mostly  press  upon  the  sick  and  the 
needy  at  the  appt-o.ich  of  death.  He  there- 
fore lingered  out  a  dark  and  gloomy  pe- 
riod of  several  months,  in  a  sullen,  deter- 
mined opposition,  to  every  religious  thought 
or  suggestion.  The  very  name  of  Christ 
was  dreadful  to  his  ear:  whether  from  fear, 
or  from  scorn,  or  from  anguish,  is  not  so 
certainly  known.  It  is  certain,  he  showed 
a  continued  and  marked  hpstility  to  the 
Clerical  character,  and  would  not  endure 
that  any  of  them,  under  any  pretext,  should 
visit  him.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Ketchum  how- 
iCver,  in  the  common  garb  of  a  citizen,  suc- 
ceeded to  approach  him,  and  to  bring  him 


<^S6  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

into  some  desultory  conversation ;  but  he 
had  no  sooner  drawn  towards  the  object  of 
his  visiti,  by  indirectly  naming  the  nafne  of 
J  esus,  than  the  enraged  infidel,  fired  at  the 
sound,  and  lost  to  all  sense  of  decorum, 
actually  drove  him  from  his  presence  !  He 
would  not  endure  any  expostulation.  But, 
though  dreadful  was  the  sound  of  that 
name,  whom  he  had  pierced,  yet  he  after- 
wards actually  repeatedly  exclaimed  in  his 
agonies  of  pain,  in  the  presence  of  his 
physician  Doctor  Manly,  O,  liord  help  me, 
O  Jesus  help  me  !  Upon  being  questioned 
by  the  Doctor,  as  to  his  confidence  in  the 
succour  of  that  name,  he  would  make  no 
reply.  But  being  further  urged,  he  said 
with  a  previous  thoughtful  pause  :  "  I  have 
310  wish  to  believe  on  that  subject.""^ 

It  has  been  the  opinion  of  those  who  had 
the  best  means  of  seeing  the  last  days  of 
this  hoary  incendiary,  that  it  was  his  labour 
;ind  aim  to  maintain  to  his  last,  the  appear - 

*  Doctor  Manly,  has  writlen  a  letter  explanatory 
of  his  deatl).  We  are  informed  by  him,  that  when- 
ever he  fell  into  pai'oxysms  of  pain,  which  were  fre- 
quent before  his  death,  he  would  cry  out  without 
intermission,  O  Lord  help  me,  O  Jesus  lielp  me  ! 
fiod  help  me,  Jesus  Christ  help  me,&c.  Mis  conduct 
was  as  singular  as  his  conversation  was  equivocal. 
He  would  not  be  left  alone  nig-ht  or  day.  He  would 
actually  scream  and  holloa  if  left  alone  but  for  oji^ 
moment. 


EXEMPLIFICATIOX.  257 

aiice  of  firmness  and  undisma}^  in  his  prin- 
<:iples.  This  false  and  vainglorious  pride, 
was  natural  to  such  an  heart ,;  and  makes 
the  opinion  extremely  probable.  But  the 
inquietude  and  uncertainty  consequent  to 
a  mind  so  alienated  from  God,  kept  him 
awakened  to  continued  fear,  lest  his  cou- 
rage, which  was  forced  and  fluctuating, 
might  be  overruled  by  his  distrusting, 
though  feeble  conscience,  if  he  once  sub- 
mitted to  hear  the  arguments  which  a 
Christian  could  at  such  a  time  enforce. 
Besides  he  was  too  conscious  of  his  blas- 
phemy against  Christ  to  even  hope  \i\  his 
name.  He  had  thei-efore  no  alternative  but 
to  sustain  his  character,  or  loose  his  wretch- 
ed fame. 

All  concur  in  describing  him  as  possessing 
the  most  peculiarly  awful  visage  that  ever 
saddened  a  dying  bed.  It  was  an  unique 
face ;  possessing  an  assemblage  of  every 
vitious  and  dismal  passion.  It  was  indeed 
too  terrific  to  suffer  some  who  knew  him, 
to  repeat  their  visits. 

As  he  would  never  tolerate  any  conversa- 
tion respecting  religion,  so  he  died  leaving 
no  other  evidence  behind  him,  than  his 
general  aversion  to  Christ  and  his  disciples. 
He  has  now  gone  to  his  reward,  where  the 
realities  of  eternity  are  made  known  to  him. 


-j8  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

{[Those  who  are  curious  to  learn  more  of  Paiiic, 
i-nay  find  enough  in  Cheetham's  "life  of  Paine"  late^ 
ly  published,  to  g'ive  them  a  complete  disgust  of  his 
character.  He  was  insincer;:^  us  a  politician,  was 
too  aspiring-  for  names  and  titles  to  be  a  real  Repub- 
lican, and  was  an  habitual  drunkard  and  a  most 
disg-usting  sloven.  He  was  also  avaricious,  and  base  in 
the  fulfilment  of  his  pecuniary  promises.  In  sliort, 
he  was  a  compound  of  all  those  vices  which  are 
generated  in  the  breast  of  every  infidel  who  wan- 
tonly  sets  tjie  laws  of  God  at  defiance.] 


[The  names  zvhtchfolloxv^  are  such  Unbe- 
Uevers  as  reformed  their  IJves^  and  bore 
their  testimony  to  the  truth,'] 

CHARLES  GILD  ON, 

Author  of  a  book  called  the  Oracles  of 
Reason,  was  convinced  of  the  fallacy  of  his 
own  arguments  against  religion,  and  the 
danger  of  his  situation,  by  reading  Leslie's 
Short  Method  with  a  Deist.  He  after- 
wards wrote  a  defence  of  Revealed  Reli- 
don,  entitled  the  Deist's  Manual,  and  died 
in  the  christian  faith. 

LORD  LYTTLETON, 

Author  of  the  History  of  Henr}^  the  Second, 
and  Gilbert  West,  had  both  imbibed  the 
principles  of  unbelief,  and  had  agreed  to- 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  259 

^cther  to  write  something  in  favour  of  in- 
fidelity. To  do  this  more  effectually,  they 
judged  it  necessary  to  acquaint  themselves 
pretty  well  with  the  Bible.  By  the  perusal 
of  that  book,  however,  they  were  both  con- 
vinced of  their  error  :  both  became  converts 
to  the  religion  of  Christ  Jesus  ;  both  took 
i^p  their  pens  and  wrote  in  favor  of  it :  the 
former  his  Observations  on  the  Conversion 
of  St.  Paul ;  the  latter,  his  Observations 
on  the  resurrection  of  Christ ;  and  both 
died  in  peace. 

Johnson  tells  us,  that,  "  Lord  Lyttleton, 
in  the  pride  of  juvenile  confidence,  with  the 
help  of  corrupt  conversation,  entertained 
doubts  of  the  truth  of  Christianity ;  but  he 
thought  afterwards  it  was  no  longer  fit  to 
doubt,  or  believe  by  chance,  he  therefore 
applied  himself  seriously  to  the  great  ques- 
tion. His  studies  being  honest,  ended  in 
convictiom  He  found,  that  religion  was 
true,  and,  what  he  had  learned,  he  endea- 
voured to  teach,  by  observations  on  the  con- 
x^ersion  of  St.  Paul;  a  treatise  to  which  in- 
fidelity has  never  been  able  to  fabricate  a 
specious  answer." — Two  days  previous  to 
his  dissolution,  this  great  and  good  man 
addressed  his  physician  in  these  memorable 
words : — "  Doctor,  you  shall  be  my  con- 
fessor.   When  I  first  set  out  in  the  world. 


260    ^  EXEMPLIFICATION^. 

I  had  friends  who  endeavoured  to  shake 
my  belief  in  the  christian  religion.  I  saw 
difficulties  which  staggered  me,  but  I  kept 
my  mind  open  to  conviction.  The  evidence 
and  doctrines  of  Christianity,  studied  with 
attention,  made  me  a  most  firm  and  per- 
suaded believer  of  the  christian  religiop.  I 
have  made  it  the  rule  of  my  life,  and — it  is 
the  ground  of  my  future  hopes." 

PRINGLE, 

One  of  the  first  characters  of  the  present 
age,  though  blessed  with  a  religious  educa- 
tion, contracted  the  principles  of  infidelity, 
when  he  travelled  abroad.  But  as  he  scorn- 
ed to  be  an  implicit  believer,  he  was  equal- 
ly averse  from  being  an  implicit  unbeliever. 
He  therefore  set  himself  to  examine  the 
principles  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  with  all 
caution  and  seriousness.  The  result  of  his 
investigation  was,  a  full  conviction  of  the 
divine  original  and  autliority  of  the  gospel. 
The  evidence  of  revelation  appeared  to  him 
to  be  solid  and  invincible;  and  the  nature 
of  it  to  be  such  as  demanded  his  warmest 
acceptance. 


EXEMPLIFICATIOX.  261 

SOAME  JENYNS, 

By  some  means  had  been  warped  aside  in- 
to the  paths  of  infidelity,  and  continued  in 
this  state  of  mind  several  years.  Finding 
his  spirit,  hov/ever,  not  at  rest,  he  was  m- 
duced  to  examine  the  grounds  upon  which 
his  unbelief  was  founded.  He  discovered 
his  error ;  was  led  to  believe  in  the  Saviour 
of  mankind;  and  wrote  a  small  treatise  in 
the  defence  of  the  gospel,  entitled,  a  view 
of  the  internal  evidences  of  Christianity;  a 
work  worthy  the  perusal  of  every  man,  who 
wishes  to  understand  the  excellency  of 
the  religion  which  he  professes. 

OLIVER, 

A  famous  physician,  was  a  zealous  unbe- 
liever till  within  a  short  time  of  his  death. 
Being  convinced  of  his  error,  and  the  dan- 
ger of  his  situation,  he  bev/ailed  his  past 
conduct  ^v1th  strong  compunction  of  heart, 
and  gave  up  his  spirit  at  last,  in  confident 
expectation  of  mercy  from  God,  through 
the  merit  of  that  Saviour,  whom,  for  many 
years,  he  had  ridiculed  and  opposed.  "Oh," 
said  he,  "  that  I  could  undo  the  mischief 
that  I  have  done  !  1  was  more  ardent  to  poi- 
son people  with  the  principles  of  irreligion 
and  unbelief,  than  almost  any  christian  can 
be  to  spread  the  doctrines  of  Christ." 


262  EXEMPLIFICATIOX. 

GENERAL  DYKERN 

Received  a  mortal  wound  at  the  battle  of 
Bergen,  in  Germany,  A.  D.  1759.  He  was 
of  a  noble  family,  and  possessed  equal 
abilities  as  a  minister  in  the  closet,  and  a 
general  in  the  field,  being  favoured  with  a 
liberal  education.  Havmg  imoioea  the 
principles  of  infidelity,  he  continued  a  pro- 
fessed deist,  till  the  time  he  received  his 
fatal  wound.  During  his  illness,  howei^er, 
a  great  and  effectual  change  was  wrought 
upon  his  mind  by  the  power  of  divine  grace, 
and  he  died  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith, 
glorying  in  the  salvation  of  Jesus,  and  won- 
dering at  the  happy  change  which  had 
taken  place  in  his  soul. 


EARL  OF  ROCHESTER 


was  I  great  scholar,  a  great  poet,  a  great 
sinner,  and  a  great  penitent.  His  life  was 
written  by  Burnet,  and  his  funeral  sermon 
was  preached  and  published  by  Mr.  Par- 
sons. JDr  Johnson,  speaking  of  Burnet's 
life  of  this  nobleman,  says,  "  The  critic 
ought  to  read  it  for  its  elegance,  the  philo- 
sopher for  its  argument,  and  the  saint  for 
its  piety." 

His  lordship,  it  appears,  had  advanced  to 
an  uncommon  height  of  wickedness,  having 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  263 

been  an  advocate  in  the  black  cause  of 
atheism,  and  an  encomiast  to  Beelzbub. 
He  had  raked  too  in  the  ven^  bottom  oi  the 
Jakes  of  debauchery,  and  had  been  a  satyrist 
against  religion  itself.  But  when,  like  the 
prodigal  in  the  gospel,  he  came  to  himself, 
his  mind  was  filled  with  the  most  extreme 
horror,  which  forced  sharp  and  bitter  invec- 
tives from  him  against  himself;  terming 
himself  the  vilest  wretch  that  the  sun  ever 
shone  upon ;  wishing  he  had  been  a  crawl- 
ing leper  in  a  ditch,  a  linkboy,  or  a  begg-ar, 
or  had  lived  in  a  dungeon,  rather  than  of- 
fended God  in  the  manner  he  had  done. 

Upon  the  first  visit  of  Mr.  Parsons  to 
him,  on  May  26di,  1680,  after  a  journey 
from  the  West,  he  found  him  laboui  ing  un- 
der great  trouble  of  mind,  and  his  con- 
science full  of  terror.  The  earl  told  him — 
"  When  on  his  journey,  he  had  been  argu- 
ing with  gre:,ter  vigour  against  God  and 
religion,  than  ever  he  had  done  in  his  life- 
time before,  and  that  he  had  been  resolved 
to  run  them  down  with  all  the  argument  and 
spite  in  the  world;  but  like  the  great  con- 
vert, Paul,  he  found  it  hard  to  kick  against 
God."  At  this  time,  however,  his  heart 
was  so  powerfully  affected,  that  he  argued 
as  much  tor  God  and  religion,  as  ever  he 
had  done  against  them. — lie  had  such  tre- 


264  exe:mpufication. 

mendous  apprehensions  of  the  Divine  Ma- 
jesty, mingled  with  such  delightful  contem- 
plations of  his  nature  and  perfections,  and 
of  the  amiableness  of  religion,  that  he  said, 
— "  I  never  was  advanced  thus  far  towards 
happiness  in  my  life  before :  though  upon 
the  commission  of  some  sins  extraordinary, 
I  have  had  some  considerable  checks  and 
warnings  from  within ;  but  still  1  struggled 
with  them,  and  so  wore  them  o{f  again. 
One  day,  at  an  atheistical  meeting  in  the 
house  of  a  person  of  quality,  I  undertook  to 
manage  the  cause,  and  was  the  principal 
disputant  against  God  and  religion;  and 
for  my  performances  received  the  applause 
of  the  whole  company. — Upon  this  my 
mind  was  terribly  struck,  and  I  immediately 
replied  thus  to  myself — '•'  Good  God,  that 
a  man  that  walks  upright,  that  sees  the 
wonderful  works  of  God,  and  has  the  use 
of  his  senses  and  reason,  should  use  them 
to  the  defying  of  his  Creator ! — But  though 
this  was  a  good  beginning  towards  my  con-, 
version,  to  find  my  conscience  touched  for 
my  sins,  yet  it  went  off  again :  nay,  all  my 
life  long,  I  had  a  secret  value  and  reverence 
for  an  honest  man,  and  loved  morality  in 
others.  But  I  had  formed  an  odd  scheme 
of  religion  to  myself,  which  would  solve  all 
that  God  or  conscience  might  force  upo 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  265 

me  ♦  yet  I  was  never  reconciled  to  the  busi- 
ness of  Christianity ;  nor  had  I  that  reve- 
rence for  the  gospel  of  Christ,  which  I 
ought  to  have  had." 

This  state  of  mind  continued  till  the  fifty- 
third  chapter  of  Isaiah  was  read  to  him,  to- 
gether with  some  other  parts  of  the  sacred 
scriptures ;  when  it  pleased  God  to  fill  his 
mind  with  such  peace  and  joy  in  believing, 
that  it  was  remarkable  to  all  about  him,  up- 
on which  he  used  to  enlarge  in  a  very  fami- 
liar and  affectionate  manner,  applying  the 
whole  to  his  own  humiliation  and  encour- 
agement. 

"  O  blessed  God,  would  he  say,  "  can 
such  a  horrid  creature  as  I  am  be  accepted 
by  thee,  who  have  denied  thy  Being,  and 
contemned  thy  power?  Can  there  be  mer- 
cy and  pardon  for  me  ?  AVill  God  own  such 
a  wretch  as  I?" 

In  the^  middje  of  his  sickness  he  said  still 
farther : — "  Shall  the  unspeakable  joys  of 
heaven  be  conferred  on  me  ?  O  mighty  Sa-- 
viour,  never  but  through  thine  infinite  love 
and  satisfaction !  O  never  but  by  the  pur- 
chase of  thy  blood!" — adding — "  that  with 
all  abhorrence  he  reflected  upon  his  former 
life — that  from  his  heart  he  repented  of  all 
that  folly  and  madness  of  which  he  had  been 
guiltv.'^ 


266  EXEMPLIFICATIOIS^. 

He  had  a  strong  and  growing  esteem  for 
the  sacred  scriptures,  and  evidently  saw 
their  divine  fidness  and  excellency  :  ''  For, 
having  spoken  to  his  heart,  he  acknow- 
ledged, all  the  seeming  absurdities  and  con- 
tradictions fancied  by  men  of  corrupt  and 
reprobate  judgments,  were  vanished;  and 
the  excellency  and  beauty  of  them  appeared 
conspicuously,  now  that  he  was  come  to  re- 
ceive the  truth  in  the  love  of  it." 

During  his  illness  he  had  a  hearty  con- 
cern for  the  pious  education  of  children_, 
wishing  "  his  son  might  never  be  a  wit,  one 
of  those  wretched  creatures  who  pride  them- 
selves in  abusing  God  and  religion,  deny- 
ing his  Being  or  his  Providence ;  but  that 
he  might  become  an  honest  man ;  and  of  a 
truly  religious  character,  which  only  could 
be  the  support  and  blessing  of  his  family." 

One  of  his  companions  coming  to  see  him 
on  his  death-bed,  he  said  to  him  : — "  O  re- 
member that  you  contemn  God  no  more. 
He  is  an  avenging  God,  and  will  visit  you 
for  your  sins ;  and  will^  I  hope,  in  mercy 
touch  your  conscience,  sooner  or  later,  as 
he  has  done  mine. — ^You  and  I  have  been 
friends  and  sinners  together  a  great  while, 
therefore  I  am  the  more  free  with  you. — 
We  have  been  all  mistaken  in  our  conceits 
and  opinions;  our  persuasions  have  been 


KXEMPLIFICATIOK.  267 

false  and  groundless ;  therefore  I  pray  God 
grant  you  repentance." 

When  he  drew  towards  the  last  stage  of 
his  sickness,  he  said,  "  If  God  should  spare 
me  yet  a  little  longer  time  here,  I  hope  to 
bring  glory  to  his  name,  proportionably  to 
the  dishonour  I  have  done  to  him  in  my 
whole  life  ;  and  particularly  by  my  endea- 
vours to  convince  others,  and  to  a&sure 
them  of  the  danger  of  their  condition,  if 
they  continued  impenitent ;  and  to  tell  them 
how  graciously  God  hath  dealt  with  me." 

And  when  he  came  within  still  nearer 
views  of  dissolution,  about  three  or  four 
days  before  it,  he  said, — "  I  shall  now  die : 
but.  Oh;  what  unspeakable  glories  do  I  see ! 
AVhat  joys,  beyond  thought  or  expression 
iim  I  sensible  of!  I  am  assured  of  God's 
mercy  to  me  through  Jesus  Christ !  Oh ! 
how  I  long  to  die,  and  to  be  with  my  Sa- 
viour! " 

For  the  admonition  of  others,  and  to  undo 
as  much  as  was  in  his  power,  the  mischief 
of  his  former  conduct,  he  subscribed  the 
following  recantation,  and  ordered  it  to  be 
published  after  his  death  ; 

"  For  the  benefit  of  all  those,  whom  I  may 
have  drawn  into  sin  by  my  example  and  en- 
couragement, I  leave  to  the  world  this  my 
last   declaration :   which  1  deliver  in  the 


268  EXEMPLIFICATION". 

presence  of  the  great  God,  who  knows  the 
secrets  of  nil  hearts,  and  before  whom  I 
am  now  appearing  to  be  judged  ;  That 
from  the  bottom  of  my  soul  I  detest  and 
abhor  the  whole  course  of  my  former  wick- 
ed life  ;  that  I  think  I  can  never  sufficiently 
admire  the  goodness  of  God,  who  has  given 
me  a  true  sense  of  my  pernicious  opinions 
and  vile  practices,  by  which  I  have  hitherto 
lived  without  hope,  and  without  God  in 
the  world  :  have  been  an  open  enemy  to 
Jesus  Christ,  doing  the  utmost  despite  to 
the  holy  Spirit  of  grace ;  and  the  greatest 
testimony  of  my  charity  to  such,  is  to  warn 
them,  in  the  name  of  God,  as  they  regard 
the  welfare  of  their  immortal  souls,  no  more 
to  deny  his  Being  or  his  Providence,  or 
despise  his  goodness ;  no  more  to  make  a 
mock  of  sin,  or  contemn  the  pure  and  ex- 
cellent religion  of  my  ever-blessed  Redeem- 
er, through  whose  merits  alone,  I,  one  of 
the  greatest  of  sinners,  do  yet  hope  for 
mercy  and  forgiveness.  Amen." 

DUNCOMB  COLCHESTER. 

The  case  of  Bucomb  Colchester  was 
somewhat  like  this  of  Rochester.  He  was 
a  gentleman  of  excellent  parts,  a  generous 
spirit,  and  undaunted   courage.     Having, 


EXE^fPUFICATlON.  2&^ 

however,  spent  many  years  in  sundry  ex- 
travagances, he  was  at  length,  by  a  long 
and  painful  sickness,  brougltt  to  a  very 
serious  sense  of  the  excellency  of  religion, 
and  of  his  own  great  sin  and  folly  in  the 
neglect  and  contempt  of  it.  He  according- 
ly, by  way  of  making  some  small  reparation 
for  the  mischief  he  had  done  by  his  wick- 
edness, drew  up  an  address  to  his  friends 
and  the  public,  somewhat  like  to  the  above 
of  Rochester,  signed  by  divers  witnesses, 
and  caused  it  to  be  read  in  two  neighbour- 
ing churches,  and  spread  abroad  among  all 
his  friends  and  neighbours  through  the 
country,  as  extensively  as  he  was  able. 

GEORGE  VILLIERS, 

Duke  of  Buckingham,  was  the  richest  man, 
and  one  of  the  greatest  wits  in  the  court  of 
Charles  II  ;  and  yet  such  were  his  vices 
and  extravagances,  that  before  he  died,  he 
was  reduced  to  poverty  and  general  con- 
tempt. In  this  situation,  however,  he 
seems  to  have  been  brought  to  a  sense  of  his 
folly,  and  the  danger  of  his  condition,  from 
the  letter  which  he  wrote  to  Dr.  Barrow, 
of  whom  he  had  an  high  opinion,  on  his 
death  bed ;  and  which  is  worthy  the  atten- 
tion of  every  man  of  pleasure  and  dissipa- 
tion. 


2  70  EXEM  PLIFIC  ATIOX. 

"  Dear  Doctor^ 
I  always  looked  upon  you  as  a  man  of 
true  virtue  :  and  know  you  to  be  a  person 
of  sound  judgment.  For,  however  I  may 
act  in  opposition  to  the  principles  of  re- 
ligion, or  the  dictates  of  reason,  I  can 
honestly  assure  you,  I  had  always  the  high- 
est veneration  for  both.  The  world  and  I 
may  shake  hands  ;  for  I  dare  affirm,  we  are 
heartily  weary  of  each  other.  O  what  a 
prodigal  have  I  been  of  the  most  valuable 
of  all  possessions,  time  !  I  have  squandered 
it  away,  with  a  persuasion  it  was  lasting ; 
and  now,  when  a  few  days  would  be  worth 
a  hecatomb  of  worlds,  I  cannot  flatter  my- 
self with  a  prospect  of  half  a  dozen  hours. 
How  despicable  is  that  man  who  never 
prays  to  God,  but  in  the  time  of  his  dis- 
tress !  In  what  manner  can  he  supplicate 
that  omnipotent  Being  in  his  affliction,  with 
reverence,  whom  in  the  tide  of  his  pros- 
perity, he  never  remembered  with  dread  ? 
Do  not  brand  me  with  infidelity,  when  I 
tell  you,  I  am  almost  ashamed  to  offer  up 
my  petitions  to  the  throne  of  grace ;  or  of 
imploring  that  divine  mercy  in  the  next 
world,  which  I  have  so  scandalously  abused 
in  this.  Shall  ingratitude  to  man  be  looked 
on  as  the  blackest  of  crimes,  and  not  in- 
gratitude to  Godf     Shall  an  insult  offered 


EXEMPLIFICATIOI^.  271 

to  the  king  be  looked  on  in  the  most  offen- 
sive light ;  and  yet  no  notice  taken  when 
the  King  of  kings  is  treated  with  indignity 
and  disrespect  ?  The  companions  of  my 
former  libertinism  would  scarce  believe 
their  eyes,  were  you  to  show  them  this 
epistle.  They  would  laugh  at  me  as  a 
dreaming  enthusiast,  or  pity  me  as  a  timo- 
rous wretch,  who  was  shocked  at  the  ap- 
pearance of  futurity.  They  are  more  en- 
titled to  my  pity  than  my  resentment.  A 
future  state  may  very  well  strike  terror  in- 
to any  man  who  has  not  acted  well  in  this 
life  ;  and  he  must  have  an  uncommon  share 
-of  courage  indeed,  who  does  not  shrink  at 
the  presence  of  his  God.  You  see  the  ap- 
prehensions of  death,  will  soon  bring  the 
most  profligate  to  a  proper  use  of  their 
•understanding.  I  am  haunted  by  remorse, 
•despised  by  my  acquaintance,  and,  I  fear, 
forsaken  by  itiy  God.  There  is  nothing  so 
dangerous,  as  extraordinary  abilities.  I 
cannot  be  accused  of  vanity  now,  by  being 
sensible  that  I  was  once  possessed  of  un- 
common qualifications  ;  as  I  sincerely  re- 
gret that  I  ever  was  blest  with  any  at  all. 
My  rank  in  life  still  made  these  accom- 
plishments more  conspicuous ;  and,  fasci- 
nated with  the  general  applause  which  they 
procured,   I   never   considered   about  the 


2  72  EXEMPLIFlCx\T10N , 

proper  means  by  which  they  should  be  dis- 
played. Hence,  to  purchase  a  smile  from 
a  blockhead  whom  1  despised,  1  have  fre- 
quently treated  the  virtuous  with  disre- 
spect ;  and  sported  with  the  holy  name  of 
heaven,  to  obtain  a  laugh  from  a  parcel  of 
fools,  who  were  entitled  to  nothing  but  my 
contempt.  Men  of  wit  look  on  themselves 
as  discharged  from  the  duties  of  religion ; 
and  confine  th'e  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  to 
people  of  meaner  understandings ;  and  look 
on  that  man  to  be  of  narrow  genius  who 
studies  to  be  good.  What  a  pity  that  the 
holy  writings  are  not  made  the  criterion  of 
true  judgment ! — ^I'^'avour  me  with  a  visit 
as  soon  as  possible.  Writing  to  you  gives 
me  some  ease.  I  am  of  opinion  this  is  the 
last  visit  I  shall  ever  solicit  from  you.  My 
distemper  is  powerful.  Come  and  pray 
for  the  departing  spirit  of  the  unhappy 
Buckingham." 

DILLON, 

Earl  of  Roscommon,  contemporary  with 
Buckingham,  was  also  a  man  of  consider- 
able learning  and  abilities,  but  a  man  of 
dissipation  and  licentious  principles.  He 
addicted  himself  immoderately  to  gaming, 
by  which  he  was  engaged  in  frequent  quar- 


EXEMPLIPIC  ATION.  273 

rels  and  brought  into  no  little  distress. 
But,  however  we  miiy  be  disposed  to  play 
the  devil  when  we  are  in  no  apparent  dan- 
ger, there  is  a  time  coming,  when  we  shall 
see  all  things  in  a  more  serious  point  of 
view.  Accordingly,  we  are  told,  at  the 
moment  this  merry  nobleman  expired,  he 
was  constrained  to  utter,  with  an  energy 
of  voice  that  expressed  the  most  ardent 
devotion — 

"  My  God,  my  Father,  and  my  Friend, 
Do  not  forsake  me  in  the  end." 

A  NOBLEMAN. 

"We  have  also  an  uncommon  alarm  given 
lis  in  a  letter  from  another  nobleman  on  his 
death-bed,  to  an  mtimate  companion  ; 
which  no  man  can  seriously  read,  and  not 
be  deeply  affected. 

^'  Dear  Sir^ 
"  Before  you  receive  this,  my  final  state 
will  be  determined  by  the  judge  of  all  the 
^arth.  In  a  few  days  at  most,  perhaps  in 
a  few  hours,  the  inevitable  sentence  will  be 
passed,  that  shall  raise  me  to  the  heights  of 
happiness,  or  sink  me  to  the  depths  of 
misery.  While  you  read  these  lines,  I  shall 
be  either   groaning   under  the  agonies  of 


274  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

absolute  despair,  or  triumphing  in  fullness 
of  joy. 

It  is  impossible  lor  me  to  express  the 
present  disposition  of  my  soul—the  vast 
uncertainty  I  am  struggling  with  !  'No 
words  can  paint  the  force  and  vivacity  of 
my  apprehensions.  Every  doubt  wears  the 
face  of  horror,  and  would  perfectly  over- 
whelm me,  but  for  some  faint  beams  of 
hope,  which  dart  across  the  tremendous 
gloom  !  What  tongue  can  utter  the  anguish 
of  a  soul  suspended  between  the  extremes 
of  infinite  joy,  and  eternal  misery  ?  I  am 
throwing  my  last  stake  for  eternity,  and 
tremble  and  shudder  for  the  important 
event. 

Good  God  I  how  have  I  employed  my- 
self !  v/hat  enchantment  hath  held  me  ?  In 
what  delirium  hath  my  life  been  past  ? 
"What  have  I  been  doing,  while  the  sun  in 
its  race,  and  the  stars  in  their  courses,  have 
lent  their  beams,  perhaps,  only  to  light  me 
to  perdition  ! 

I  never  awakened  till  now.  I  have  but 
just  commenced  the  dignity  of  a  rational 
being.  Till  this  instant  I  had  a  wrong  ap- 
prehension of  every  thing  in  nature.  I 
have  pursued  shadows,  and  entertained 
myself  with  dreams.  1  have  been  treasur- 
ing up  dust,  and  sporting  mj'self  with  the 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  575 

wind.  I  look  back  on  my  past  life,  and 
but  for  some  memorials  of  guilt  and  infamy, 
it  is  all  a  blank — a  perfect  vacancy  !  I 
might  have  grazed  with  the  beasts  of  the 
field,  or  smig  with  the  winged  inhabitants 
in  the  woods  to  much  better  purpose,  than 
any  for  v/hich  I  have  lived.  And  oh  !  but 
for  some  faint  hope,  a  thousand  times  more 
blessed  had  I  been,  to  have  slept  with  the 
clods  of  the  valley,  and  never  heard  the 
Almighty's  fiat,  nor  waked  into  life  at  his 
command  ! 

I  n^ver  had  a  just  apprehension  of  the 
solemnity  of  the  part  1  am  to  act  till  now. 
I  have  often  met  death  insulting  on  the 
hostile  plain,  and,  with  a  stupid  boast,  de- 
fied his  terrors  :  with  a  courage  as  brutal 
as  that  of  the  warlike  horse,  I  have  rushed 
into  the  field  of  battle,  laughed  at  the  glit- 
tering spear,  and  rejoiced  at  the  sound  of 
the  trumpet ;  nor  had  a  thought  of  any  state 
beyond  the  grave,  nor  the  great  tribunal  to 
which  I  must  have  been  summoned  ; 

"  Vv'here  all  my  secret  guilt  had  been  veveal'cl. 
Nor  the  minutest  circumstance  conceal'd." 

It  is  this  which  arms  death  with  all  its 
terrors  ;  else  I  could  still  mock  at  fear,  and 
>mile  in  the  face  of  the  gloomy  monarch. 
ft  is  not  giving  un  my  breath ;  it  is  not  being 


270^  EXEMPUFICATION. 

forever  insensible,  that  is  the  thought  at 
which  I  shrink  :  it  is  the  terrible  hereafter, 
the  something  beyond  the  grave  at  which 
I  recoil.  Those  great  realities,  which,  in 
the  hours  of  mirth  and  vanity,  I  have  treated 
as  phanthoms,  as  the  idle  dreams  of  super- 
stitious beings  ;  these  start  forth,  and  dare 
me  now  in  their  most  terrible  demonstra- 
tion. My  awakened  conscience  feels  some- 
thing of  that  eternal  vengeance  I  have  oft^ 
en  defied. 

To  what  heights  of  madness  is  it  possi- 
ble for  human  nature  to  reach  ?  What  ex- 
travagance is  it  to  jest  With  death  !  to  laugh 
at  damnation  !  to  sport  with  eternal  chains, 
and  recreate  a  jovial  fancy  with  the  scenes 
of  infernal  misery ! 

Were  there  no  impiety  in  this  kind  of 
mirth,  it  would  be  as  ill-bred  as  to  enter- 
tain a  dying  friend  with  the  sight  of  a  har'- 
lequin,  or  the  rehearsal  of  a  farce.  Every 
thing  in  nature  seems  to  reproach  this  levity 
in  human  creatures.  The  whole  creation^ 
man  excepted,  is  serious :  man,  who  has 
the  highest  reason  to  be  so,  while  his  affairs 
of  infinite  consequence  are  depeiiding  on  this 
short  uncertain  duration.  A  condemned 
wretch  may  with  as  good  a  grace  go  danc- 
ing to  his  execution,  as  the  greatest  part  of 
mankinrl  go  on  with  such  a  thoughtless  gay- 
ety  to  their  grave. 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  277 

Oh  !  with  what  horror  do  I  recall  those 
hours  of  vanity  which  we  have  wasted  to* 
gether  !  Return,  ye  lost  neglected  moments! 
How  should  1  prize  you  above  the  Eastern 
treasures  !  Let  me  dwell  with  hermits  ;  let 
me  rest  on  the  cold  earth  ;  let  me.  converse 
in  cottages  ;  may  I  but  once  more  stand  a 
candidate  for  an  immortal  crown,  and  have 
my  probation  for  celestial  happiness. 

Ye  vain  grandeurs  of  a  court !  Ye  sound- 
ing titles,  and  perishing  riches  !  what  do 
ye  now  signify  !  what  consolation,  what  re- 
lief can  ye  give  me  ?  I  have  a  splendid  pas- 
sage to  the  grave ;  I  die  in  state,  and  lan- 
guish under  a  gilded  canopy  ;  I  am  expir- 
ing on  soft  and  downy  pillows,  and  am 
respectfully  attended  by  my  servants  and 
physicians  :  my  dependents  sigh,  my  sisters 
weep,  my  father  bends  beneath  a  load  of 
5'ears  and  grief;  my  lovely  wife  pale  and 
silent,  cbnceals  her  inward  anguish ;  my 
friend,  who  was  as  my  own  soul,  suppresses 
his  sighs,  and  leaves  me  to  his  secret  grief. 
But,  oh !  who  of  these  will  ansv/er  my 
summons  at  the  high  tribunal  ?  Who  of  them 
will  bail  me  from  the  arrests  of  death? 
Who  will  descend  into  the  dark  prison  of 
the  grave  for  me  ? 

Here  they  all  leave  me,  after  having  paid 
^  a  few  idle  ceremonies  to  the  breathless  clav 
A  a 


278  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

which  perhaps  may  lie  reposed  in  state, 
while  my  soul,  my  only  conscious  part,  may 
stand  trembling  before  my  judge. 

My  afflicted  friends,  it  is  very  probable, 
with  great  solemnity  will  lay  the  senseless 
corpse  in  a  stately  monument,  inscribed 
with, 

Hete  lies  the  Great  — — ^ 

But  could  the  pale  carcase  speak,  it  would 
soon  reply : — 

False  marble,  where  ? 
Nothing'  but  poor  sordid  dust  lies  here  1 

While  some  flattering  panegyric  is  pro- 
nounced at  my  interment,  I  may  perhaps 
t)e  hearing  my  just  condemnation  at  a  su- 
perior tribunal ;  where  an  unerring  verdict 
may  sentence  me  to  everlasting  infamy. 
©lit  I  cast  myself  on  his  absolute  mercy, 
through  the  infinite  merits  of  the  Redeemer 
of  lost  mankind.  Adieu,  till  we  meet  in  the 
world  of  spirits." 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  279 


LACKINGTON. 


This  man,  celebrated  as  the  greatest  book- 
seller in  the  world,  as  well  as  for  the  many 
and  large  editions  of  his  own  "  Memoirs," 
written  generally  to  bring  Religion,  particu- 
larly the  more  spiritual  part  of  it,  into  ridi- 
cule and  disrepute,  furnishes  us  with  a  very 
remarkable  exhibition  of  the  power  of  Di- 
vine Grace.  These  "Memoirs,''  and  his 
subsequent  "  Confessions"  of  remorse  and 
repentance,  display  in  a  very  conspicuous 
manner,  why  and  how^  men  can  contemn 
the  truth :  and  how  confused  and  ashamed 
they  may  be  by  Grace,  at  their  supposed 
best  and  most  extolled  sinful  performances. 

From  a  very  humble  origin,  he  rose 
through  the  assistance  of  religious  friends, 
to  an  elevation  seldom  equalled  in  men  of 
his  low  sphere  and  scanty  education.  Being 
of  an  acute  and  enquiring  mind,  he  read 
with  eager  avidit}^  an  astonishing  variety 
of  books,  which  by  a  very  tenacious  memo- 
ry, soon  gave  him  a  stock  of  knowledge, 
which  because  not  well  chosen,  nor  received 
with  becoming  humility,  puffed  up  his  as- 
piring vanity,  till  like  a  full  blown  bladder 
it  burst  in  infidelity.  He  had  in  humbler 
life,  when  he  needed  the   consolations  of 


280  EXEMPLIFICATION. 

the  Spirit,  been  an  engaged  and  sincere 
christian ;  but  frbm  the  causes  just  men- 
tioned, and  an  inattention  to  the  seductions 
which  a  flattering  world  can  use,  he  lost 
not  only  his  sense  of  Religion,  but  even 
became  so  forg-etful^  perverted,  and  base, 
as  to  write  his  "  memoirs"  on  purpose  to 
vilify  and  disparage  that  same  religion  he 
had  professed  and  enjoyed.  So  true  it  is, 
as  he  himself  afterwards  confessed,  that 
men  can  forget  that  they  "were  purged 
from  their  sins,"  and  can  like  Peter,  even 
curse  and  swear,  that  "  they  know  not  the 
man."  In  doing  this,  he  hoped  to  have 
effected  much  by  slandering  the  character 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley,  his  former  bene- 
factor ,•  so  ungrateful  is  infidelity  !  But  in 
process  of  time,  Mr.  Wesley  died,  and  his 
'4ife  and  death"  being  published,  Mr.  Lack- 
ington  was  induced  to  look  into  it,  that  he 
might  ascertain  how  he  died.  In  reading 
this  Book,  behold  how  strange  are  the 
ways  of  Providence  !  he  felt  himself  alter- 
nately "  delighted,  confounfled,  instructed 
and  troubled."  That  divine  power  (says  he, 
in  his  ^'  confessions,")  which  has  been  felt  by 
thousands  under  the  preaching  of  Mr. 
Wesley  and  his  preachers,  again  humbled 
me  in  the  dust.  I  sunk  down  at  the  feet 
of  Christ  and  washed  them  with  my  tears. 


EXEMPLIFICATION.  081 

Sorrow,  joy  and  love,  were  sweetly  mingled 
together  in  my  soul.  "  I  was  now  con- 
vinced that  the  pardoning  love  of  God 
which  wsLsJirst  manifested  to  my  soul,  was 
a  divine  reality,  and  not  the  effect  of  a 
heated  imagination." 

From  that  time  as  the  reading  world  all 
knows,  he  has  been  doing  his  utmost,  by 
the  publication  of  Religious  tracts  and  the 
spread  of  his  recantations,  to  atone  for  his 
wretched  endeavours  to  vilify  the  power 
and  efficacy  of  the  most  Holy  Scriptures. 

Every  infidel  ought  to  read  Lackington's 
"  Confessions."  They  are  a  mirror,  in 
which  they  may  often  see  themselves  re- 
flected ;  particularly  if  they  have  previously 
read  his  conceited  and  reproachful  "  me- 


CONCLUSION. 

The  patient  reader,  who  has  accompanied 
us  to  a  close,  must  now  determine  for  him- 
self, whether  the  Religion  of  Jesus  be  a 
divine  reality,  or  a  base  imposition  upon  the 
credulity  of  mankind. 

The  comparison  of  the  lives  and  deaths 
of  sinners  and  of  saints,  sufficiently  demon- 
strate the  superior  degree  of  happiness  en- 
joyed by  the  christian.    If  it  be  a  delusion, 


ii82  EXEMPLlFiCATION. 

facts  still  declare,  that  no  such  measure  of 
joy  and  transport  encircle  the  languishing 
bed  of  the  infidel.  Even  that  elegant  ge- 
nius, the  aspiring,  disappointed,  young 
Chatterton,  (who  impiously  terminated  his 
own  existence)  could  not  forbear,  as  a  token 
of  his  best  wishes  to  a  friend,  to  wish  him 
"  all  the  consolations  which  the  christian 
Religion  affords  to  those  who  can  believe 
it,  but  of  which  (alluding  to  his  own  sup- 
posed superior  sagacity)  /  can  have  none." 
Those  who  are  still  incredulous,  we  aw- 
fully fear,  will  discover  their  error  when  it 
lis  forever  too  late  to  remedy  it.  The  error 
of  such  an  one:'* s^  judgment  will  not  serve  his 
defence';  it  will  be  proved  to  be  nothing 
short  of  the  depravity  of  his  heart.  Those 
who  remain  firm  and  unshaken  in  their  in- 
fidelity, under  the  still  small  voice  of  peace- 
ful reason  and  the  ordinary  teachings  of 
grace,  must  be  considered  as  hopeless,  un- 
less awakened  from  their  dream  of  damn- 
ing illusion,  by  the  tremenduous  thunders 
of  Mount  Sinai  ! 

"  Since  then  we  die  but  once,  and  after  death 
Th'  immortal  spirit  goes 
Tx)  endless  joys,  or  everlasting  woes  ; 
Wise  is  the  man,  who  labours  to  secure 
The  mig-hty  and  important  stake." 

FINIS 


ERRATA. 

page  65, — 1st  lioe — carnation  read  incarnation. 

„  80,13th  „  after  the  words  "Bible  revelation" 
read  in  parent/ieses,  (the  necessity  for  which 
is  not,  however,  the  less  to  be  required). 

„  100,  15th  line— read,  to  Feel  is  to  be  fir'd. 

,4  loi8,  17th  do.— from,  read,  on  Cornelius- 


m' 


